How LeBron James made the Rockets what they are today

In January 2021, James Harden ended his nearly decade-long tenure with the Houston Rockets with 12 words that are still remembered in his hometown.

“This situation is crazy. I don’t think it’s something that can be fixed,” Harden told the media after a tough loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, a night that marked Harden’s final home game at Toyota Center. While Harden’s harsh words felt like a carefully planned next move to execute his trade demands, perhaps his words from the podium were prompted by an incident just hours earlier. LeBron James might have you to thank for making the end of the Harden era in Houston crystallize.

For those unfamiliar with the Rockets’ recent history, here’s a brief history lesson: Harden first expressed serious dissatisfaction with the team ahead of the 2020-21 season, saying he was struggling to work with guard Russell Westbrook After that failed, he hoped to be traded out of Houston. Harden’s wish wasn’t immediately granted, and in retrospect, what followed was one of the city’s worst sports exits. Harden skipped training camp with new coach Stephen Silas and flew to Las Vegas and other venues. He then performed well in the first three games of the season, then missed the next game and then was pretty dismal the following week. On January 10, 2021, the Lakers lost to the Lakers at home by 18 points. Two days later, the dam finally burst.

Los Angeles once again dominated a listless Rockets team, and James added some of his now-famous injury indignity in the first half. James hit a corner 3-pointer to extend Los Angeles’ lead to 24 points, and before the ball hit the basket, he turned to face his bench and made a serious taunt. Houston didn’t reply angrily. The Rockets kept their heads down and limped through the rest of the game, losing by double digits for the second straight home game. Less than a year ago, Harden and the Rockets briefly looked capable of beating the Lakers in the NBA bubble. On that night in January 2021, this team looked like a complete failure.

The aforementioned highlights bring a certain searing pain to Rockets fans who have endured a rather disastrous rebuild in recent seasons. But maybe the tide is starting to turn. The Rockets enter Wednesday night at 3-3 after a three-game winning streak, and record aside, this year’s team is more talented than the three teams in the Silas era.

For the Rockets, Harden seems to have a new lease of life. A win over James and the Lakers on Wednesday could end one of the most disastrous stretches in franchise history.