There has been ongoing, shared interest between James Harden and the Houston Rockets in a possible reunion since his departure in 2021, according to Ramona Shelburne and Tim MacMahon of ESPN.
Sources say Harden and his camp even looked into a return this season after the Los Angeles Clippers stumbled to a 6-21 start.
While there is still strong appreciation for Harden within the organization, there are also concerns about how his style of play could impact the growth of younger players like Alperen Sengun, Reed Sheppard, and Amen Thompson.
“We’re not really looking for a heliocentric player, as great as James still is,” a team source said. “We want to develop Reed, we want to develop Amen and we want the ball in Alpy’s hands.”
Harden has played 17 seasons for 6 teams, including the Clippers. He has averaged 24.0 points, 7.3 assists, and 5.6 rebounds in 1,221 regular-season games.
He was selected to play in 11 All-Star games. He has won 1 Sixth Man of the Year award and 1 MVP award.
Rockets Notes: Durant, Offseason Plans, Sheppard, Harden https://t.co/jSFsIXJY7f
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) May 4, 2026
