The reason for the temporary absence of Russell Westbrook from the start of Houston Rockets training camp is public knowledge, now that Westbrook has shared his positive test result for COVID-19.
Fellow All-Star guard James Harden has also been absent from the initial days of practice at the NBA “bubble,” where most of the Rockets are gearing up for the restart of the 2019-20 season. Unlike Westbrook, however, the reason for Harden’s absence has not been disclosed.
The Rockets have insisted for days that both former MVPs are doing well and expected to rejoin their teammates in Florida soon. On Monday, head coach Mike D’Antoni said that Harden and Westbrook were each working out to stay in shape while going through protocols.
On Tuesday afternoon, we gained video evidence of those workouts. Lorenzo McCloud, who is Harden’s business manager, posted videos to his Instagram stories section of Harden working out on the team’s official practice court at Toyota Center in Houston.
He captioned it “10:55 p.m. 7/13/20,” referring to Monday night.
Footage of James Harden working out at Toyota Center #Rockets pic.twitter.com/6ZbdSvXB9i
— Alykhan Bijani (@Rockets_Insider) July 14, 2020
Earlier Tuesday, NBA insider Shams Charania of The Athletic said:
James Harden is feeling fine, he has been working out to make sure that he stays in shape. He may travel with Russell Westbrook to Orlando once Westbrook clears [protocols] from the coronavirus.
Everyone around the Rockets is optimistic that they will be able to get Westbrook and Harden into Orlando, sooner rather than later.
A source tells our NBA Insider @ShamsCharania that Rockets star James Harden is feeling fine, working out and may travel with Russell Westbrook to Orlando when Westbrook clears from coronavirus. pic.twitter.com/O8CsLBxGJK
— Stadium (@Stadium) July 14, 2020
Since Westbrook and Harden were not on the team’s original charter flight to Florida, they must test negative three times for COVID-19 before traveling to Orlando. Late arrivers must also go through the NBA’s initial two-day period of self-quarantine and COVID-19 testing upon entering the bubble. That means they won’t be able to join their teammates on the practice court until two days after their arrival.
The 2019-20 regular season won’t resume for the Rockets until Friday, July 31 versus Dallas, which gives Harden and Westbrook (and the Rockets) plenty of wiggle room as they navigate those logistics.
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