Houston Rockets guard James Harden said: "I love this city. I literally have done everything that I can. I mean, this situation is crazy. It's something that I don't think can be fixed. We're just not good enough - chemistry, talent-wise, just everything"
Wednesday 13 January 2021 20:09, UK
James Harden's relationship with the Houston Rockets appears to be over after he was told to stay away from team practice.
The Rockets (3-6) are second from bottom of the Western Conference following Tuesday's 117-100 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. They lost to the same team 120-102 on Sunday.
Harden, who publicly vented his frustration after that second consecutive defeat to the Lakers, was not at the team's practice on Wednesday and has been told to stay away until a trade for the 2018 MVP can be completed.
An out-of-form Harden has scored 20 points or fewer in each of the past four games - his longest such stretch since 2011-12.
Several reports in the lead-up to the season said Harden was seeking a trade from the Rockets, though the guard has batted away the speculation.
"I love this city. I literally have done everything that I can," said Harden. "I mean, this situation is crazy. It's something that I don't think can be fixed."
The Rockets trailed by 30 points in the third quarter on Tuesday and Harden said they were well short of the quality required to challenge the top teams.
"We're not even close, honestly, to that team - obviously the defending champions - and all the other elite teams out there," he told a news conference. "I mean, you can tell the difference in these last two games.
"We're just not good enough - chemistry, talent-wise, just everything."
