The October 2012 blockbuster trade that sent James Harden from Oklahoma City to Houston resulted in the Rockets acquiring a player widely viewed as the second best in franchise history (trailing only Hakeem Olajuwon, a two-time NBA champion and Hall of Famer).
On the “Road Trippin’” podcast, Kendrick Perkins — once Harden’s Thunder teammate and now a league analyst for ESPN — says that historic Harden-to-Houston deal got an assist from high places.
As Perkins recalls, it was Harden’s gold-medal run with the United States men’s national team at the 2012 Olympics that laid the groundwork for his Oklahoma City departure. According to Perkins, it was Harden’s distinguished Team USA teammates — namely, legendary players like LeBron James and Dwyane Wade — who convinced Harden that he was worthy of an expanded role.
Via Clemente Almanza of Thunder Wire:
“(Kevin Durant) said, ‘Man, (we’re) about to lose (Harden)’,” Perkins said. “… At the Olympics (LeBron James, Dwyane Wade), all those guys were telling James, ‘Bro, (you’re) too nice to be coming off the bench… You need to have your own team.’”
The full podcast and the Olympics snippet can be viewed below.
Kendrick Perkins believes James Harden’s time with Team USA in 2012 led to his departure from the Thunder. Said players like LeBron and DWade told him he needs his own team
pic.twitter.com/1uqSuJ2Rxx— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) August 12, 2024
A few months later, Oklahoma City’s then-sixth man rejected the team’s contract-extension offer. From there, the fourth-year guard was traded to Houston for a package heavy on cheap, young prospects and draft assets. That deal allowed the Thunder to avoid any risks associated with keeping an unhappy Harden — who could’ve become a restricted free agent a year later — on the roster.
Eight All-Star appearances and a Most Valuable Player (MVP) award later, it’s clear that Houston won that transaction. Then-general manager Daryl Morey was the architect, but it appears that James and Wade may have played a behind-the-scenes role, as well.
