Harden's friendship with Durant began before the 2009 NBA Draft. After trying out for the Thunder, Harden kept in touch with Durant. Although Durant had only been in the NBA for 2 seasons at the time, he was already the boss of the Thunder. After Harden was selected by the Thunder, Durant took good care of Harden. When Durant traveled to China, he took the unknown Harden with him and told the media that Harden would become a star in the future and win attention for his little brother.
After Harden was traded to the Rockets in 2012, his friendship with Durant remained unaffected. Harden still privately likes to stay with Durant like a little follower. In 2013, after Harden made a name for himself with the Rockets, Durant said he should be in the league's top ten. Sports Illustrated was already on the top 10 list at the time, and when Durant was asked who Harden should replace, Durant gave Wade his name.
Harker averaged 25.9 points and 5.8 assists that season, not much better than Wade, who averaged 21.2 points and 5.1 assists per game. What's more, Wade already had 3 NBA championships and Finals MVPs at that time, and his achievements and influence were far greater than Harden's. At least at the time, Harden didn't reach Wade's height. Durant openly thinks Harden is better, and there is clearly an element of friendship. Even if it caused an uproar in public opinion, Wade openly fought back, and Durant did not change his mouth, maintaining his support for his old friend.
Last season, harden insisted on going to the Nets, and the friendship with Durant also played an important role. But within two seasons, Harden left the Nets and he was traded to the 76ers. Harden has been pushing for the deal behind his back and wants to start over in another place. Harden insisted on going because there was no hope of winning the championship at the Nets. Wade O'Neal and other celebrities also support Harden's departure, because Harden has no championship so far, there is a sense of urgency, and the Nets are not bright because Irving can only play on the road.
Judging from Harden's choice, he regards the chance of winning the championship as more important than his friendship with Durant. This is rare in the NBA, and in the face of better chances to win the championship, James also left Wade.
James' friendship with Wade is no worse than Durant Harden's. James and Wade are both rookies in 2003, and they met during the physical test and saw each other as they were. After entering the league, James and Wade became more intimate as their communication increased. James Wade went on vacation and ate together, and Wade's wife, Unione, once said that James knew Wade's appetite better than he did. In 2006, james and Wade also negotiated with Wade before renewing their contracts with their respective teams, and made the decision to reject the 5-year contract. This also laid the foundation for the two sides to meet in 2010.
In 2010, James switched to the Heat and formed the Big Three with Wade and Bosh. Joining forces deepened James' friendship with Wade as they experienced failure and success together. In the 2010-11 season, the Heat reached the Finals, but were beaten by the Mavericks. The Big Three became the target of public criticism, and their previous rhetoric was turned over and ridiculed. Without complaining to each other, James Wade huddled together to keep warm and found a way to success. Over the next 2 seasons, the Heat completed two consecutive championships and stood at the pinnacle of success.
But James' partnership with Wade lasted only 4 seasons. After losing to spurs in the 2013-14 Finals, James decided to leave the Heat because he believed the Cavaliers had a better chance of winning the title. James returned to the Cavaliers, the Heat fell straight out of the title race, and Wade became a victim. But that didn't affect Wade's friendship with James, and the two remained close. Later, Wade also went to the Cavaliers, but this time the alliance was unsuccessful.
Even Durant himself has made a choice between winning the championship and friendship, and his choice is the former. After the 2015-16 Western Conference Finals were reversed by the Warriors, Durant turned around and joined the opponent, abandoning his good brother Westbrook who had been fighting together for many years. For Harden's change of court, Durant should not be difficult to understand, as generous as the original Wade, and Harden broke up without breaking up the friendship.
"Friends come and go, championship flags always hang on the dome", Kobe Bryant's famous quote at the beginning seems ruthless, but it also reveals a major essence of life. In the face of career, friendship needs to be put backwards, and now Harden has explained this truth.