James Harden became the first player in NBA history to score a double in his first team in … [+]
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James Harden became the first player in NBA history to record a three-pointer in his debut for a team as the Brooklyn Nets defeated Orlando Magic 122-115 on Saturday.
Obtained by Brooklyn on Thursday in a four-team trade with the Houston Rockets on Wednesday, which was brought in on Friday and they were unable to work Saturday before uniting a blue unis on the Nets. The Beard apparently needed no practice at all before scoring 32 points, fishing 14 assists and catching 12 rebounds with four directions on an 8-of-18 shooting from the field.
His new All-Star team player Kevin Durant was ranked 42nd high against the Magic as Brooklyn fired 53.8% off the field and 45.7% from three. A former team player with the Oklahoma City Thunder, it was the highest overall score Durant-Harden duo have always been in a game.
Harden, a 31-year-old All-Star, seven-time All-NBA and three-time scoring champ, sought trading from Houston ahead of the season and was spotted away from the team at clubs and parties. In January, Harden averaged a low of 17.4 points per game in five contests and told reporters after Tuesday ‘s loss to the Los Angeles Lakers that the Rockets were just not good enough.
That was the final straw for the Rockets, as they kept the seemingly overweight Harden away from the team while finishing and enabling trade. That deal cost four players, three bricks and four selected exchange rights, but Harden immediately showed what he can bring to Brooklyn, who are still without Kyrie Irving, who is still out for personal reasons.
Harden can follow his Nets debut on Monday when they appear on television nationally against Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks.