James Harden's exit from the Houston Rockets did not come at the best of terms. He pretty much forced his way out of Houston following what was a memorable eight-season stint with the Rockets. In spite of this fact, however, the Rockets organization remains appreciative of all that Harden has done for the franchise, and as such, the team will be providing the former MVP with the ultimate honor of retiring his No. 13 jersey number.
None other than team owner Tilman Fertitta himself confirmed the team's intention to honor their former cornerstone superstar:
“James Harden will always be a Rocket,” Fertitta said via text message on Tuesday (h/t Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle). “Of course, we will retire his jersey. He made my first three years of owning this franchise unforgettable. The success he brought this franchise over eight years and the memories he created for our fan base/community (are) truly remarkable.”
There was a lot of drama during the lead-up to the eventual trade that sent Harden to the Brooklyn Nets. What was clear was that the nine-time All-Star wanted out of Houston. He virtually did everything he could to ensure that a trade would push through, which at several points, did not sit too well with the Rockets faithful.
That's all water under the bridge now, however, and for their part, the Rockets organization seems to hold no grudge whatsoever. They would rather look back at the many fond memories Harden had during his spell in Houston — and in his defense, there were more than a few of them.
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