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Cousins: Harden's 'disrespect started way before any interview'

Cato Cataldo / National Basketball Association / Getty

James Harden managed to burn a few bridges on his way out of Houston.

DeMarcus Cousins was one of multiple Houston Rockets players who responded Wednesday to Harden's recent divisive remarks, and from the sounds of it, the All-Star guard won't be missed.

"The disrespect started way before any interview," Cousins said hours before reports surfaced of a four-team trade sending Harden to the Brooklyn Nets, according to CBS Sports' James Herbert.

The interview in question came in the wake of Tuesday's 117-100 home loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, where Harden looked particularly dispirited after going 5-of-16 from the field.

"I love this city; I literally have done everything that I can. I mean, this situation is crazy. It's something that I don't think can be fixed," Harden said following the game.

Harden then exited the postgame press conference. According to Cousins, the former MVP's display of disgruntlement was a season-long theme.

"Just the approach to training camp, showing up the way he did, the antics off the court, I mean the disrespect started way before. So this isn't something that all of a sudden happened last night," Cousins continued.

Harden reported to the team late for training camp in December after he was photographed at two parties for rapper Lil Baby in Atlanta and Las Vegas. His tardiness came amid reports he'd demanded a trade.

"He can feel however he wants to feel about the organization or whatever his current situation is, but the other 14 guys in that locker room have done nothing to him," Cousins added. "So for us to be on the receiving end of some of his disrespectful comments and antics, it's completely unfair to us."

Cousins wasn't particularly keen to answer questions about Harden's future in Houston. "I don't really think that’s a question for us. I think that's a question for him: Will he ever think he could play with us again? I don't know. Quite honestly, don't care," Cousins said, courtesy ESPN's Tim MacMahon.

"This has been going on since training camp," Rockets breakout star Christian Wood said, according to Herbert.

"It's a little disappointing and it hurts the team chemistry a little bit," Wood added.

Rockets head coach Stephen Silas announced before Wednesday's reported deal that Harden would remain absent from team activities for the immediate future.

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