You know, you want your best player to be here and there is some time, but, you know, it is a setback.

I take it basically at face value that he's not here and he has a reason, but that's on him to tell whoever what his reason is.

That was the new head coach of the Houston Rockets, Stephen Silas, trying to answer the biggest

question in the new NBA season so far.

Where in the world is James Harden?

Today, Tim McMahon joins us to tell us what the Rocket Superstar has been up to, how big a problem this all is for Houston, and where the story may be headed next.

I'm Pablo Torre. It's Tuesday, December 8th.

This is ESPN Daily.

Tim McMahon, I have been so excited to talk to you about what it's like to be on the rocket's beat right now.

Because covering this team has never been boring, really, but

how would you describe what it's like at this moment? What's the mood around all of this?

You know, I mean, look, the Rockets tend to, there tends to be a lot of turbulence, I think,

to put it politely.

Tim McMahon covers the NBA for ESPN from Texas, where he's been documenting the chaos in Houston all offseason.

Typically, that turbulence, at least over the last eight years, has been about trying to find a co-star for James Harden.

James Harden say, no, I'm tired of this guy, give this one, or whatever the case may be.

Now the turbulence is them desperately clinging to the hope that they can convince this guy

who is touring the country with a rapper right now, parting maskless during a pandemic

while they're beginning training camp.

Come on, we can still win. You know,

get back on board. And it's a, that's a heck of a challenge to put it to put it lightly.

So I want to reset for the listener here, Tim, because a year ago, the Rockets were in a very

...