It didn’t take long for Brooklyn Nets’ guard James Harden to get acquainted with his new surroundings becoming the first player to score a 30-point triple-double in a debut with a new team.
Harden racked up 32 points, 14 assists, and 11 rebounds, in a 122-115 victory over the Orlando Magic.
Former Thunder teammate and current Nets’ running mate Kevin Durant had his way with the Magic as well, dropping a game-high 42 points.
The Beard had nothing but praise for his Nets’ teammates after citing a lack of talent in Houston to compete for a chip.
“We have some special talent in that locker room; very versatile shooters, playmakers, defenders a little bit of everything, and that’s what your gonna need come postseason,” said Harden. “Obviously we haven’t built as much chemistry as we like, but that first game it felt good to be out there on that court and just giving guys confidence, giving guys the energy. That’s what it’s gonna take throughout the course of the year and once you build that up and guys believing each other, it’s pretty scary.”
Harden found his way to Brooklyn after forcing the Houston Rockets’ hand, dealing him in a four-team trade that sent Caris LeVert and Jarrett Allen alongside a massive haul of picks out to get him.
The Nets now wait for third All-Star Kyrie Irving to rejoin the team and form a formidable big three that could rival any team in the league, including the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers.
The Beard leaves behind an impressive resume in Houston, winning the 2018 NBA MVP, earning eight All-Star nods, and scoring 20,000 of his total career points in H-Town.
Still, Harden and the Rockets never made it to the Finals, losing to the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference Finals twice.
Brooklyn hosts the Milwaukee Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo next at the Barclays Center on Monday night.