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SCMP Reporter

Former Houston Rockets shooting guard James Harden will join the likes of Yao Ming, Clyde Drexler and Hakeem Olajuwon in having his number 13 jersey retired.
Harden, 31, who was traded to the Brooklyn Nets after a messy break-up in January, will be returning to Houston’s familiar Toyota Centre for the first time on Thursday where the announcement is expected to be made before he faces his former team.
In his nine seasons with Houston, “The Beard” earned nine NBA All-Star appearances, the 2018 MVP award, among several other scoring and assist accolades.
He averaged 29.6 points, six rebounds, 7.7 assists and 1.8 steals per game and helped the team make the play-offs every season.

“James Harden will always be a Rocket. Of course we will retire his jersey. He made my first three years of owning this franchise unforgettable,” Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta told the Houston Chronicle.
The success he brought this franchise over eight years and the memories he created for our fan base and community are truly remarkable.”

Rockets will retire James Harden's No. 13 https://t.co/T14A43PnGR via @houstonchron
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) March 2, 2021

Harden joins Yao’s 11, Drexler’s 22, Olajuwon’s 34, Calvin Murphy’s 34, Moses Malone’s 24, Rudy Tomjanovich’ 45 and Carrol Dawson’s CD [initials of former assistant coach and front-office executive] in the rafters.
Last October, then-Rockets general manager Daryl Morey, whose tweet in October 2019 supporting the Hong Kong pro-democracy movement hurt NBA-China relations, took out a full-page advertisement in a local newspaper thanking Harden. “James Harden changed my life,” he wrote alongside a photo of the pair from 2012.
Morey resigned amid the tweet’s backlash and Chinese state broadcaster CCTV proceeded with an NBA blackout before returning in time to show the Los Angeles Lakers win the 2019 Finals. The Lakers had begun that season in China to face the Brooklyn Nets in preseason games in Shanghai and Shenzhen. Several events around the games were cancelled by the Chinese government in the days after Morey‘s initial tweet.

Harden, a favourite of Chinese NBA fans, was in Tokyo at the same time for preseason games with the Rockets. He apologised to Chinese fans on Morey’s behalf. “We apologise. We love China,” he said, standing next to Rockets teammate Russell Westbrook. “We love playing there ... They show us most support so we appreciate them.”
He later reiterated that he was “staying out of it” when pressed by post-practice session reporters.


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NBA (National Basketball Association)

Houston Rockets to retire James Harden’s jersey number; joins Yao Ming and Hakeem Olajuwon

Former Houston Rockets guard James Harden goes for the lay-up against Golden State Warriors in game four of the second round of the 2019 NBA play-offs at Toyota Centre, Texas. Photo: USA Today

Nov 30, 2019; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) dribbles the ball against the Atlanta Hawks during the first quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports

May 4, 2019; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) shoots the ball as Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (35) defends during the third quarter in game three of the second round of the 2019 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Sport

Basketball

The 31-year-old earned nine NBA All-Star call-ups and an MVP award in his nine seasons at H-Town
‘James Harden will always be a Rocket’ – owner Fertitta recalls his ‘unforgettable’ and ‘remarkable’ legacy


James Harden, who earned nine NBA All-Star call-ups and an MVP award with Houston Rockets, ‘will always be a Rocket’ according to owner Tilman Fertitta.


James Harden

Houston Rockets to retire James Harden’s jersey number; joins Yao Ming and Hakeem Olajuwon

The 31-year-old earned nine NBA All-Star call-ups and an MVP award in his nine seasons at H-Town ‘James Harden will always be a Rocket’ – owner Fertitta recalls his ‘unforgettable’ and ‘remarkable’ legacy

The 31-year-old earned nine NBA All-Star call-ups and an MVP award in his nine seasons at H-Town

‘James Harden will always be a Rocket’ – owner Fertitta recalls his ‘unforgettable’ and ‘remarkable’ legacy