James Harden makes preseason debut with Rockets

James Harden, star of the Houston Rockets, predictably showed a bit of rust during his preseason debut at the Toyota Center on Tuesday night, a day after participating in his first team workout.

In a 112-98 victory over the San Antonio Spurs, Harden contributed 12 points shooting 3-for-10 in 21 minutes, along with four assists, three rebounds and two steals. This allowed first-year head coach Stephen Silas to finally see his full squad in action for the first time.

Silas expressed, “It was significant. You would have to inquire with those guys, but the team spirit appeared to be quite strong, and having a skilled player on the court benefits everyone. It’s a change for some, but the more talent there is in the NBA, the more opportunities there are to win games. So, it was positive.”

“Drilling down into the specifics,” Silas carries on, “the process of guys figuring out how to play in unison is going to be an ongoing project. It will entail a lot of film analysis to determine the most effective combinations, understanding where players need the ball, and ensuring everyone’s involvement in our game plan. This is the challenge we face. The time we have to decipher everything is limited, but we must focus on the details.”

Silas confessed his lack of sufficient experience with Harden to determine if the star guard was rusty in his exhibition debut. Additionally, the coach was unable to ascertain how near the former MVP is to reaching his regular-season form.

James Harden’s first points of the preseason came on a step-back 3-pointer.

“Clearly, I’ve faced him numerous times over the past several years,” stated Silas. “However, I can’t answer that question. I don’t know how close he is. I haven’t spent enough time with him to know the answer.”

Harden arrived at the Rockets training camp on Dec. 8, however, he wasn’t allowed to practice with the team until Monday, following six straight days of testing negative for COVID-19. Harden, along with P.J. Tucker and Sterling Brown, were absent from Houston’s initial two exhibition matches against the Chicago Bulls. They all made their preseason first appearance against the Spurs.

Silas immediately put Harden and Tucker into the starting lineup, despite originally stating before the game that he intended to have both on the field for roughly 20 minutes each, while restricting Brown to around 12 minutes.

Harden and Tucker each played for 21 minutes, whereas Brown remained on the floor for 24 minutes.

“Silas praised Harden’s performance, stating, “He was good. It’s clear that he’s a great player who can make a lot of things happen both on and off the ball. He’s defensively strong, with good hands and play-making abilities, plus he’s intelligent. Having him on the court was fantastic.”

Harden and Tucker capitalized swiftly on their short stint. On his first attempt of the evening, Harden sunk a step-back 3-pointer, then earned a foul while shooting another deep shot during Houston’s following possession. Harden successfully made all three free throws, bringing his total to six points in less than three minutes into the game.

Meanwhile, Tucker scored his first corner 3-pointer attempt and ended the game with 8 points, a rebound, and an assist. Brown also contributed with 2 points, 6 rebounds, and two steals.

“Being out there with the team again felt amazing,” said guard Ben McLemore. “It’s consistently wonderful to have a complete team and your teammates to compete alongside. We’re all thrilled to have everyone back.”

Despite playing sparingly, Harden and Tucker’s exhibition debut performances managed to briefly alleviate some of the recent troubles plaguing the organization. Harden has reportedly asked for a trade, and Tucker, who is in his contract’s final year, has voiced his unhappiness about the team’s decision not to offer an extension.

John Wall, the new point guard who was traded to Houston in exchange for Russell Westbrook and a first-round pick on Dec. 2, handled the ball predominantly in the team’s first two preseason games. However, Wall acknowledged that Harden’s return has slightly shifted this dynamic. Despite this, he expressed optimism about the Rockets’ potential offensive capabilities this season.

Silas noted, “having two dynamic ballhandlers on the floor can be very beneficial.”

In his first game playing with Harden, Wall ended with 15 points and three assists.

“Initially, it was a bit unusual for me because I’m accustomed to handling the ball,” said Wall. “However, we communicated throughout the match and during sideline chats. Sometimes, when he had the ball, I figured out ways to break free and catch outlet passes from him, while still allowing him to maintain an aggressive stance. I reassured him that my focus wasn’t solely on scoring 30 or 40 points. My role is to act as the point guard, leading on the field, creating shot opportunities for others, and also being assertive to facilitate offense. At the same time, we acknowledge your identity as James Harden, a top-tier scorer in the league. So, just play your game unreservedly.”

After his debut on Tuesday, Harden was not presented to the media. Wall stated that he is not discouraging his new teammate from his attempts to transition to a different team.

“Before we even became teammates, I was already cool with James. The idea of us being on the same team never crossed my mind,” Wall stated. “Ultimately, he’ll make the decision that’s best for him, just like the organization will do what’s best for them. Our main focus when we step on the court is basketball. I don’t inquire about his personal affairs. My concern is making the Rockets the best possible team while everyone is here, and moving ahead with that.”

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Michael C. Wright is a senior writer for NBA.com. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on Twitter.

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