Rockets making the right call by retiring James Harden’s No. 13 jersey

On Tuesday, the Houston Rockets announced they will end up retiring James Harden’s No. 13 jersey down the road. 

For many NBA fans out there, it’s still strange to see superstar player James Harden rocking a Brooklyn Nets jersey. After such a long, historic time with the Houston Rockets, the sharpshooter was traded to Brooklyn in early January.

Now that he’s suiting up for the Nets, Harden continues to showcase why he’s one of the best players in the game, while also making Houston fans miss him. Well, the team will be honoring Harden in the best way possible, as the Rockets have announced that they’ll be retiring Harden’s No. 13 jersey number.

James Harden will have his No. 13 retired by the Houston Rockets

“James Harden will always be a Rocket,” team owner Tilman Fertitta told the Houston Chronicle. “Of course, we will retire his jersey. He made my first three years of owning the 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’s no denying Harden was a sensational player for Houston, as he made the All-Star team eight times while with the organization. In his nine seasons with the Rockets, Harden averaged a head-turning 29.6 points per game, while adding 7.7 assists and 6.0 rebounds per outing.

Prior to arriving to Houston, Harden spent the first three years of his career with the Oklahoma City Thunder. As soon as he made his way to the Rockets, though, he was expected to be the go-to scorer for the team and he didn’t disappoint, highlighted by winning the 2018 MVP Award.

While Houston fans still miss seeing him take the hardwood for the team, they’ll be able to see his name and jersey in the rafters in the future.