Big one last night on ESPN.

Coming back to Houston was James Harden your thoughts on that.

And then, like I said, if you're just waking up this morning, there's a huge NBA story Not a lot of people are talking about.

We'll get into it.

We didn't think about it going into the night because everybody was focused on Harden.

What do you make of the return?

The Nets of it?

The All Star break on fire.

I mean, bread in love is the Brooklyn way, right?

I mean, that's that's what James Harden is doing right now.

I mean, 29 points, 14 assists, 10 rebounds.

I think he put it on the show last night for Houston.

Initially, there were a lot of booze, uh, mixed with some applause, I think when they had the tribute video for him when he came out and kind of, you know, put his hand over his heart.

I think you heard more applauds than booze, but look like he said yesterday, I think whenever you get booed, that's a sign of respect.

And at the end of the day, He was very graceful in the way he said, Hey, I think Tilman Fertitta for, you know, standing out that they're going to retire my number.

But I mean, look, you expected Brooklyn to win.

You expect that James Harden to put on a performance?

Uh, I just Every time I watch Houston play, I feel worse and worse for them.

I mean, John Wall and Victor Oladipo had 30 plus points, but look, they lost their 13th straight.

Um, it just it's gonna get tougher and tougher for Houston.

And it continues to build that narrative about who wants to own Houston.

DeShaun Watson.

And they got the Houston Rockets playing poorly, uh, just tough for them, But still, I think it was overall great performance for for James Harden last night.

But he was not the performance of the evening.

The performance of the evening went to the Philadelphia 76 ers.

There were boos.

There were cheers.

They gave him a tribute video last night Key, which he saw James Harden come out, put his hand over his heart.

I think he got the respect that he was looking for, but he got that mostly by having a triple double.

29 points, 14 assists, 10 rebounds.

We expected them to win this game, but ultimately watching the relationship that will continue between the Rockets organization and James Harden was the pivotal moment.

Uh, they're gonna retire his jersey, And I think that was Tilman Fertitta, the owner, saying, Hey, look, we want to amend ways.

Uh, the way we handled it, the way we thought you handle it probably wasn't in the first class manner, but we're trying to move forward.

And I think James Harden handled that very graciously last night and they're gonna retire jersey in the future.

Obvious, right?

Um, I think when you look at the difference between Embiid and a James Harden for M V P, where are these teams going to be?

In the end?

That's how I look at it.

You know, I think that the war should run into the postseason.

Jalen Rose doesn't think so.

Some others doesn't think so, but I think it should run into the postseason before you give it out because you know, one and done MVPs and your team get bounced in the first round.

I don't like that.

You're right.

You know, but I don't know.

I don't think that Philadelphia or the Nets will get bounced in the first round.

I think both of these guys are playing well.

We obviously have seen James Harden continue to do whatever it is that he's always done.

I mean, think about it, though.

Even at OK Cie.

When he had the minutes he was getting, he was cooking and then he just got better.

And then it became who he is today after his stop in Houston.

And I still have James Harden, number one Joel and beat number two LeBron James.

Number three.

But I tell you, every time I watched you all and be and I'm like, man, he keeps making his way like he keeps inching up there.

I mean, last night was another huge performance against a multi dimensional defender, and Rudy Gobert was one defensive player of the year multiple times and Joel and beat at 40 points.

I mean, I thought the signature gave me out against the Bulls where he went for 50 points, was one, but last night was a game changer moment for me.

He just needs to stay healthy.

Yes, if he can stay healthy, keep his weight down.

You know, I think having Glenn Rivers as his coach and that coach and staff that he's assembled in Philadelphia certainly is getting the best out of both him and Ben Simmons.

And Tobias Harris is helping along the way as well.

There's no doubt about it.

Tobias Harris had 11 points in overtime yesterday.

Joel Embiid, 40 and 19 6 over the Jazz last night in the extra session and the Keys point.

It's gonna be a great race down the rest of the way right now is the Nets hit the All Star break.

The only team they're looking up at in their division is the Sixers, who are game better 24 12, 24 13.

It's going to be great coming down the stretch, for sure.

So then the Nets have been doing it without Kevin Durant, right?

So imagine when there are strength they don't they don't need Kevin Durant.

Thanks for watching ESPN on YouTube.