Perkins: James Harden's partying led to Russell Westbrook's trade demand

Jonathan Concool
Jan 16 2021

On this week's episode of BasketballNews.com's "The Posecast," James Posey was joined by guests Kendrick Perkins, Antoine Walker and Etan Thomas to share their thoughts on the Brooklyn Nets acquiring eight-time All-Star and former MVP James Harden.

Perkins, an analyst for ESPN, brought to light one of the reasons why Westbrook demanded a trade from the Houston Rockets this past offseason:

"A lot of people don't know this, but this is why Russ wanted to bounce," Perkins said. "The Rockets didn't want to trade Russ, he requested a trade because of all things that were transpiring last year. Say they would play on a Saturday and they don't play again until Thursday [If they had some days off], James was on a private [jet] to Cabo! On Tilman Fertitta's private [jet] at that! And Russ like, ‘Hold on, I ain’t come here for all this shit.' Russ is coming from Oklahoma City, and Oklahoma City is... [about] the culture and getting your work in and no shortcuts. Russ is sitting there saying, 'Hold on, James, what you doing? I ain't with all of this partying... I came to the H because we're supposed to be on the title chase.'" 

Here is the clip below:

Check out the complete conversation about the Harden trade, Kyrie Irving's absence, Brooklyn's Big Three and more: