James Harden has proven himself an able player on his own after playing in the shadows of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook when the trio were still together in Oklahoma City Thunder.
Since he left, such has become an opportunity for him to prove that he can be a star in his own right. So far he has done so, and he is loving it.
In Houston, the bearded one has become the obvious franchise star player despite the fact that Dwight Howard is also there. The thing is, Harden has done a lot for the Rockets and by the time his contract expires, he will surely be carrying a pretty hefty price tag.
Now, the Rockets will surely want to make sure that he is kept in the roster. But if his words are any indication, the Rockets are not going to have trouble keeping him there, perhaps until he hangs up his sneakers.
Harden has been thrown questions about possibly getting some serious suitors once his contract expires by 2018. Although a long way off, it seems pretty sure that he will be dangled a lucrative contract in the same way that Jimmy Butler and LaMarcus Aldridge were given such in the previous offseason.
The numbers are expected to skyrocket in the coming years, with the adjustments to the salary caps. But if he is dead on, Harden seems to care less.
He is pretty much content in Houston, pretty much happy and seemingly fine with his decision to join the ball club. He has been given the proper attention and is well loved by fans, making up a perfect setup that Harden seems to be pretty much thankful for.
When asked if he plans to spend his entire NBA career with the Rockets, Harden answered, according to Jonathan Feigen of Houston Chronicle, "Definitely." He added, "Definitely it's going to end here."
Assuming that he doesn't have a change of heart, he stands to equal or perhaps surpass the efforts of another Rocket, Hakeem Olajuwon. Although The Dream did start and finish his career in Houston, Harden could do more with his stellar performance.
But the key is staying healthy. As long as he is at 100%, chances are he will be a focal point of the Rockets and someone who could break records. With a little more help from the supporting cast, the Rockets could be due for a title reign if Houston pushes all the right buttons.
