OAKLAND, Calif. — On his way out of the Houston Rockets locker room following Game 5's 104-90 loss to the Golden State Warriors, James Harden walked with a hardback book tucked under his arm, ready for a diversion on his flight out of Oakland and into the offseason.
The book, Death Row Chaplain, is about finding hope despite turmoil. Warriors team chaplain Earl Smith offers the perspective, ironically, but prior to that he was a counselor of inmates at San Quentin State Prison.
Just before the locker room door, though, Harden changed stride and made a left turn.