Morey: Rockets 'should win' NBA title with Harden, Westbrook

Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey has a lot of faith in the team's Russell Westbrook-James Harden superstar tandem. Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Daryl Morey: Rockets 'should win' NBA title with James Harden, Russell Westbrook

By Blake Harper | Last updated 6/16/20

When Rockets GM Daryl Morey added Russell Westbrook to the roster, he did it with one goal in mind: finally, win an NBA championship. And with the NBA set to resume in late July, it sounds like Morey is confident that the current roster can achieve that goal.

Morey guested on "First Things First" and was asked about whether the Rockets feel pressure to win it all and he confirmed the pressure while also stating his confidence in his team.

"Basketball pressure wise, it's a lot," Morey said. "Again, two of the greatest players ever on our team, we should win this thing."

Morey on if he feels pressure for #Rockets to win a title this season: "We've seen real pressure in the world right now and thankfully some material changes are being made. Basketball pressure wise, it's a lot. 2 of the greatest players ever on our team, we should win this thing" pic.twitter.com/mLG7okIcFv
— Alykhan Bijani (@Rockets_Insider) June 16, 2020

While some general managers like to temper expectations, Morey has never been shy in sharing his high expectations for the Rockets. And he's also been honest about his failures with the team, as earlier this summer he admitted that he felt he has failed James Harden by not building a championship-caliber team around him. In Harden's eight seasons in Houston, he has yet to make a Finals appearance.

"We’ve worked together for eight or nine years now and I couldn’t have a better partner to try and win a title with," Morey said. "And in fact, most days I wake up saying, ‘I’ve let him down because I haven’t gotten him the right players to win a title.’"

Now, with Westbrook and Harden reunited, Morey believes the Rockets are ready to win their first championship since Hakeem Olajuwon led the team to back-to-back titles in the mid-90s.

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