Houston strip club owners are licking their lips as rumors intensity that James Harden could eventually return to the Rockets.
ESPN insider and noted workaholic Adrian Wojnarowski first reported around Christmas that Harden could eye a return to the Rockets, and now another prominent reporter has added to the belief that The Beard could end up back at his old home.
Kelly Iko, who covers the Rockets for The Athletic, had this to say during an appearance on local TV in Houston.
“I’m putting it at a seven out of 10,” he said of Harden’s potential return. “I think where there’s smoke there’s fire, and James loves this city. He loves those guys on the roster, young players in Houston, he has ties to the city, businesses, his home is here, and crazier things have happened. Don’t call me crazy, but you might be seeing something different.”
Of course, Harden’s immediate future is bound to come down to how things go in Philadelphia. If the Sixers manage to make a deep playoff run, that would of course be extremely hard to leave behind, especially in favour of a Rockets team that currently has the worst record in the NBA at 13-45.
Contractually, Harden is able to leave the 76ers as soon as this offseason as he has a player option for 2023-24.