PORTLAND, Ore. - Former Rockets coach Kevin McHale in his TNT appearance on Tuesday cited James Harden's off-season ankle injury for bringing Harden to camp out of shape and contributing to the Rockets' poor start that cost McHale his job.
It was far from the first time he had mentioned Harden's injury, initially citing it Oct. 7, but he had previously said Harden was not in "game shape." Harden cited the injury at Tuesday's shootaround, roughly seven hours before McHale's appearance, for his slow start to the season.
"I was affected by an ankle injury, so that threw me off my natural training late in the summer or whatnot," Harden said.