As he walked toward the locker room, (James) Harden was asked if he was aware that later that evening he was going to face a team that had passed on a chance to acquire him last summer.

“I don’t know anything about that,” Harden said.

According to multiple league sources, the Wizards balked at a proposed deal for Harden in part because owner Ted Leonsis was unwilling to give him the five-year, $80 million maximum contract that he was seeking. Harden said the snub wouldn’t give him any extra motivation when the two teams square off at 8 p.m.

“You know what? No. I don’t get bothered or intrigued by stuff like that, no,” Harden said. “I mean, I guess I wasn’t a fit for that organization or whatever they are moving forward to. What I can control is me going out there and playing my hardest and helping my team win games.”

via Michael Lee of The Washington Post