Ime Udoka, head coach of the Houston Rockets, acknowledged that bringing James Harden back would not have aligned with the team's growth strategy during the 2023-24 season. Udoka communicated to Harden and other veteran players that the Rockets were not yet ready to compete for a championship.

Despite mutual respect, Udoka emphasized the importance of developing young talent over adding a ball-dominant player like Harden. The Rockets are currently performing well, sitting third in the Western Conference, while Harden's new team, the Los Angeles Clippers, struggles.