Harden says he's 'forever indebted' to Houston in farewell message to fans

Listen to Brooklyn Nets general manager Sean Marks answer questions on how he thinks the ball dominant trio of James Harden, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant will fit on the basketball court.

After a dramatic departure out of Houston, James Harden is Brooklyn-bound -- but not before bidding farewell to Rockets faithful in a heartfelt post.

Harden bid a final farewell to Houston via Instagram on Friday, saying he's "forever indebted" to the team and its fans.

"What can I write? What words can convey all the ways I feel," he wrote in a post that accompanied a highlight reel of his career with the Rockets. "Houston you welcomed me with no guarantees. Took a leap of faith and it changed my life and the lives of my family forever. This organization, this city has given me everything I could ask for and more. Before the scoring titles long before MVP you believed. For that I am forever indebted."

During his eight-year Houston tenure, Harden was a three-time scoring champ and earned MVP honours in 2017-18. Despite being paired with fellow stars like Chris Paul and Russell Westbrook in recent years, Harden was never able to propel the Rockets beyond the Western Conference Finals -- a regret he noted in Friday's goodbye address, which concluded with an interest note, adding that it's "far from a good bye as I pay all my debts."

"The city opened its arms and welcomed me and my family as one of its own and for that I am forever indebted," Harden continued. "I gave my mind body and soul in hopes of bringing the glory to the city. I fell short and for that I am forever indebted. It’s far from a good bye as I pay all my debts. TMC H Town!"

Harden's time with Houston came to a dramatic end on Wednesday, after what began as speculation that he wanted out swiftly became a "crazy" situation that Harden told reporters was something "I don’t think can be fixed."

He now heads to the Brooklyn Nets following this week's blockbuster deal, reuniting with old OKC teammate Kevin Durant and fellow Nets star Kyrie Irving to chase the championship that has so far eluded him.

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