James Harden shoots down rumors of being unhappy with Nets: 'I’m frustrated because I want to win'

The Nets fell to the Los Angeles Lakers 106-96 on Tuesday night at Barclays Center, making it three losses in the team's last five games.

James Harden recorded a triple-double with 33 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists, but the nine-time All-Star voiced some frustration afterwards directed at both the loss itself and a recent report that claimed Harden is unhappy being in Brooklyn. 

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Harden said when asked about the specific report. When he was then asked if he enjoyed living in New York City, Harden simply responded “Yeah.”

With Tuesday’s loss, the Nets are now 29-18. While that’s still good for third place in the Eastern Conference, it’s also not what the Nets had in mind when they assembled a team filled with superstar talent in hopes of winning an NBA title.

“I don’t know about any reports. Of course I’m frustrated because we’re not healthy,” Harden said. “There’s a lot of inconsistency for whatever reason – injuries, COVID, whatever you want to call it. Yeah, it’s frustrating. I think everyone in this organization is frustrated because we are better than what our record is and we should be on the way up.

“So that’s all it is. I don’t know about reports. If you didn’t hear it from me, I don’t talk to nobody. I have an agent. If you don’t hear it from me, then it’s reports. I’m frustrated because I want to win and I’m a competitor. It’s pretty simple.”