A day after introducing point guard Chris Paul as a Houston Rocket, head coach Mike D'Antoni and general manager Daryl Morey held another press conference. This time, the pair introduced James Harden and his freshly inked $228-million contract.
The four-year deal - beginning in 2019-2020 and running through to 2022-23 - will ensure Harden remains a Rocket into his mid-30s. Morey also said that since acquiring Harden from the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston owner Leslie Alexander has wanted Harden to eventually retire with the team, per the Houston Chronicle's Jonathan Feigen.
The five-time All-Star seems equally ready for the commitment. "That was the plan. I know where home is. I don't want to go through free agency ever," remarked Harden, according to Feigen. "Everything is going to happen here in Houston, and that's the reason I'm here forever," he added, per ESPN's Tim MacMahon.
The 27-year-old superstar also discussed the featured backcourt pairing between him and Paul, joking that coach D'Antoni "can just sit there and look good," per MacMahon.
"It's going to be fun. There's no point guard or shooting guard. We just go out there and make plays and make our team better," Harden said.
After bringing in Paul and handing all that cash over to Harden, Morey and company are surely hoping their dynamic backcourt can make the team a bit more than "better."
