James Harden is reported to be eyeing an exit from the Houston Rockets because the team’s owner is a big supporter of President Donald Trump.
According to the report by TMZ, an NBA insider Ric Bucher who dropped the bombshell revelation on “The Odd Couple” podcast this week said Tilman Fertitta’s ties to the Republican party and Trump have created a massive divide in the org.
According to Bucher, players and staffers have disagreed so heavily with Tilman’s donations to the Trump campaign and it’s created a straight-up “revolt.”
“What I heard is,” Bucher said, “and we know how much politics and political position had to do with the boycott and protests during the Bubble — I’m hearing that Tilman Fertitta’s strong Republican support and donations is one of the things that is contributing to this dissatisfaction.”
Bucher added, “There is a revolt here because they look at Fertitta as a guy who supports the current President.”
The TMZ report also said that Russell Westbrook has already reportedly requested a trade from the Houston Rockets and Harden is said to now want out as well.
The team also jettisoned Robert Covington this week, while last year’s coach, Mike D’Antoni, and last year’s GM, Daryl Morey, have already left the squad.
Fertitta who bought the Rockets in 2017 for $2.2 BILLION, has never been shy about his public support for Trump. He has praised POTUS often, and the two are known to be good pals, the report by TMZ added.