There is plenty of history between former teammates Chris Paul and James Harden as they face off in the first round of the playoffs.
But Paul, now the Oklahoma City Thunder point guard, said that history is all water under the bridge.
While the two don’t talk, there isn’t any animosity, he told Yahoo Sport’s Chris Haynes.
“He ain’t gonna hit me [up] to tell my daughter ‘Happy birthday!’” Paul said. “We don’t talk, communicate or nothing like that, but that’s all good and well. I wish him the best in any and everything he does.”
Chris Paul very candid on where his relationship stands with James Harden leading up to the Thunder meeting the Rockets tonight on @NBAonTNT: “He’s not going to hit me to tell my daughter Happy Birthday today.” pic.twitter.com/MOalfyjDRE
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) August 18, 2020
The two had a reported falling out during the 2018-19 season, the second year Paul spent with Harden on the Houston Rockets.
That was part of what led to a trade between the Rockets and Thunder. Paul was sent with draft picks in exchange for Russell Westbrook.
Harden said facing Paul in this series isn’t personal to him, according to Rocket Wire’s Ben DuBose.
“I don’t ever take anything personal. I’m trying to win games, and I’m trying to win a playoff series. I take it one possession at a time, one game at a time,” Harden said.
“My role on this team is to go out and perform at a high level, but also to be a leader and make sure that guys that are around me all have that same mindset. If I can do that, then I can give us a chance to win, especially with Russell being out.”
Harden says he’s not thinking about the storyline of him vs. Chris Paul. “I don’t ever take anything personal. I’m trying to win games and a playoff series.”
Adds that his focus is on leading the #Rockets, especially with Russell Westbrook out to start the series.
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) August 17, 2020
Paul said there’s nothing abnormal about their relationship, or lack thereof — sometimes teammates just aren’t close, even if they lead a team together.
“That’s one thing I think people fail to realize, sometimes, in these situations. Sometimes you have teammates, and it is for that period of time. But that’s OK,” Paul said.
“You can wish each other well going forward. It don’t mean you have to be kumbaya, and it doesn’t mean you have to be enemies. At the end of the day, everybody’s got a life to live.”
The second game of the Thunder and Rockets series begins Wednesday at 2:30 p.m.
