Stop hating James Harden for a second

The’There is no debate that James Harden’s departure from Houston was far from ideal. He threw a three-year-old-like temper tantrum at a grocery store before being traded in Brooklyn.

But no matter how Harden left town, his final days in Houston don’t define his entire tenure there. It’s clear that the superstar still has a love for the place that helped him become a future Hall of Famer.

It was reported Sunday night that Harden had donated 3,000 meals to Houston residents affected by the severe cold that hit Texas last week. The entire state has experienced power outages and food shortages since historic levels of snow and sub-zero temperatures destroyed state infrastructure.

In a post-game press conference on Sunday, Harden said he was constantly calling on townspeople to help those affected more effectively.

Earlier this month, Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors launched a passionate rant about how players are vilified once they say they want to be traded, highlighting inconsistencies in the way organizations and fans treat these players. And there were certainly many in Houston who viewed Harden differently due to his repeated requests to leave, and they continued to prove Green’s point.

Yet, as Green pointed out, these players also have a humanity that should not be ignored. The same humanity that says “I deserve to be happy” when it asks for a business also says “I must help people” through a crisis.

I’m not saying that’s good how Harden sailed his departure from Houston. But I support his decision to want to leave an organization if he wishes. Too often we impose robotic standards on athletes, and when we try to break shape, we crush them.

You can’t criticize Harden for wanting to explore his happiness and remain silent about his selflessness to average Texans when faced with a life and death situation.

Well done Harden for trying to help the Houston community.