Tilman Ferttita: "James and Russell played together growing up and in OKC, and they're both 30-years-old. There is a chemistry with them that's going to shock people. They both know their strengths and weaknesses and they both know they're under contract to the Rockets for the next four years. This is it. If you're going to win a championship, this is when you win them.” (Full Video at Bottom of Page).
Listen to Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta explain why the team made one of the biggest trades in NBA history when they sent Chris Paul, two first round picks, and two-pick swaps to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Russell Westbrook.
Despite the Rockets winning 65 games in 2018 and 53 games in 2019 with the superior backcourt of Paul and James Harden, the team could not make it past the Warriors in the playoffs.
Paul and Harden were reportedly enveloped in a major beef that finally reached its boiling point, with it even being reported that Harden demanded Paul be traded.
Finally, the Rockets pulled the trigger on the blockbuster movie, pairing Westbrook and Harden together in an early 2010’s Thunder reunion, and sending Paul to the moon.
Check out the audio below as Fertitta details to Colin why the team pulled off the risky move when they did.