Dissatisfied superstar James Harden said the Houston Rockets were not “good enough” after the team’s second straight loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night, adding that he did not think the team could improve enough to be a competitor.
“I love this city. I’ve done literally everything I can,” Harden said after the Rockets’ 117-100 loss. “I mean, this situation is crazy. It’s something I don’t think can be fixed.”
He is the closest to Harden who came to the stock market with the commercial demand that sources said he made during the season.
Houston has had trade talks with several teams, but is determined to remain patient until the price for Harden is met, a source told ESPN.
The Racquets (3-6) have lost four of their five games since Harden, who remained at the start of training camp, returned from a sprained right ankle that caused him to miss a game. He scored 20 points or less in each of the last four games, the longest stretch since 2011-12, his final season with the Oklahoma City Thunder, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.
This loss was particularly uncompetitive, as the Rockets trailed 35-14 at the end of the first quarter.
“We’re not even close, honestly, to that team – obviously the defending champions – and all the other elite teams out there,” Harden said. “I mean, you can tell the difference in these last two games.
“We’re not good enough – chemistry, talent, just everything. And it was clear these last two games.”