USA Today via Reuters
Houston Rockets guard Russell Westbrook (left) celebrates with guard James Harden (13) after dunking against the Los Angeles Lakers during the first half of game three in the second round of the 2020 NBA Playoffs. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
USA Today via Reuters
Houston Rockets guard Russell Westbrook (left) celebrates with guard James Harden (13) after dunking against the Los Angeles Lakers during the first half of game three in the second round of the 2020 NBA Playoffs. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
The Houston Rockets are in pandemonium. Reports emerged that Russell Westbrook and James Harden have asked to leave the franchise. Now, the entire NBA is watching to see what will happen in H-Town.
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Lakers‘ Anthony Davis spoke to Yahoo in an interview. On the subject of Harden and Westbrook wanting to leave Houston, AD said he understood where they were coming from and stated, “I think that those guys just want to win. Like I said, I was in that situation last year, you know, where I wanted to win. And I was able to get the job done, you know, the following year.”
Davis said that the urgency from both players to win was greater than their desire for financial security. He noted that their ambition was why they might want to leave. He said:
“But, you know, you got two guys like JH (James Harden) and Russ, you know, two guys who made a ton of money, you know, guys who now are looking to win, like I want to win. And I’m not saying they didn’t want to win before. But, you know, Russ has been there one year, James has been there for six years or seven years, something like that.”
AD understands the ambition of James Harden and Russell Westbrook.
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DENVER, CO – NOVEMBER 20: Russell Westbrook (0) of the Houston Rockets and James Harden (13) celebrate a shift in momentum as Will Barton (5) and Gary Harris (14) of the Denver Nuggets walk back to the bench during the first quarter on Wednesday, November 20, 2019. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images)
Anthony Davis suggested that while he hasn’t spoken to either Harden or Westbrook, he knows as a player what their goals will be and said, “I haven’t talked to any of them or don’t know. But if it’s true that both are looking to move forward and try to compete for a championship. Because at the end of the day, you come into the league to make a ton of money. But you want to win.”
Davis believes that the reason they want to leave is in order to win an NBA Championship. And they probably don’t see that happening with the Houston Rockets. Davis added, “You want to be a champion. You want to have that feeling. So like I said, those guys are probably in that stage right now where they want to compete for a championship.”
It will be an interesting off-season. Much like Harden and Westbrook, Davis’ future is an important subject of discussion, as he is expected to opt-out of his option with the Lakers to become a free agent.
