NBA teams sitting down their key players for rest is a common practice nowadays, especially this part of the season when the playoffs is just a few weeks away. Marquee players like LeBron James, Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love have sat a few games this season. These players don't mind sitting out a couple of games in the season. But not for Houston Rockets All-Star shooting guard James Harden.
According to ESPN, James Harden is not a big fan of sitting out games to rest and instead said that he can have all the rest he wanted after the NBA season is over. So far this season, James Harden has not missed a single game.
James Harden, 27, plays hard every game and practices hard as well. As a result, James Harden is having his best season of his NBA career.
James Harden is averaging a near triple double this season with 29.4 points per game, 11.2 assists and 8.1 rebounds per game and is a leading candidate for the NBA's Most Valuable Player Award. James Harden is also averaging 36.5 minutes per game, ranked seventh in the NBA.
Just by looking at James Harden's numbers this season, one would assume that sitting out games to rest is fine with him. But James Harden is built unlike any other player.
For James Harden, playing basketball is his life. Resting is not an option for James Harden because for him, he has an obligation not only to his teammates but also to the whole Houston Rockets organization.
"I'm a hooper," James Harden said. "I just want to hoop. I'll rest when I'm done. I feel like my teammates and organization need me to go out there and do what I do."
Resting key players has been a hot issue the past week. NBA commissioner Adam Silver has issued a memo to all NBA team owners regarding the issue.
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