James Harden and Russell Westbrook's Relationship Goes Back Even Further Than You Realized
By Michael Luciano
For better or worse, Russell Westbrook and James Harden are together on the cap-strapped Houston Rockets for the foreseeable future following the Oklahoma City Thunder's blockbuster trade.
Despite playing for rival franchises, Harden and Westbrook remain friends off the court stemming not only from their days together in OKC, but their formative years in South Central Los Angeles. The pair used to play basketball together at the same Boys & Girls Club.
When you hear folks say James Harden & Russell Westbrook go way back, they really go way back. And that's way before the OKC days from 2009-12. They both started playing basketball at the same Challengers Boys & Girls Club in South Central LA. This is a reunion they've longed for
— Michael Lee (@MrMichaelLee) July 12, 2019
While BFFs Harden and Westbrook reuniting after the former was sent to Houston in 2012 is a great story, the fit from a basketball perspective in Daryl Morey and Mike D'Antoni's run-and-shoot offense is questionable.
In Westbrook and Harden, the Rockets have the two most ball-dominating players in the league. I don't know if you know this, but there is only one ball.
One of them is going to have to take a step back to accommodate the other, and no amount of friendship will make that easy.
Over the last 5 seasons the only players to score over 10,000 points are James Harden (11,958) and Russell Westbrook (10,025).
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) July 12, 2019
Westbrook also becomes the 3rd 2019 All-NBA Guard selection to change teams this offseason joining Kemba Walker and Kyrie Irving. pic.twitter.com/GfAAH0BqNi
Harden was effectively a one-man show in Houston last year, and while Westbrook was paired up with Paul George, that tandem still enabled Russ to maintain his ball-dominant tendencies. It's hard to envision either party wanting to slide into a more off-ball role.
As the NBA's adoption of the buddy system continues, Westbrook and Harden in Houston will be great off of the court, but the fit on the court is as incongruous as it gets.