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Harden won't rest: D'Antoni 'knows not to come at me with that'

Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports / Reuters

Although James Harden is a fashionable man, there's one trend he has no intention of following.

Now more than ever, coaches have been giving their stars nights off during back-to-backs to help with injury prevention and prolonging careers. But Harden would rather be on the court, and his Houston Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni won't stop him.

"Mike knows not to come at me with that," the All-Star guard told Fox 26's Mark Berman on Monday.

"I'm a hooper and I just want to hoop. I'll rest when I'm done."

Harden's not kidding, either. His determination to hoop has not only seen him suit up in every game this season, and play the second-most minutes. He led the league in floor time the previous two years.

The 27-year-old has emerged as a leading MVP candidate, posting career highs in points (29.2), dimes (11.2), and rebounds (8.1) over 70 contests for the third-place Rockets.

Other clubs, including the two ahead of Houston in the standings, the Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs, have been much more willing to subject their stars to a "DNP-rest." But for players like Harden and John Wall, who said players owe it to fans to suit up if they're fit to, rest can wait.

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