HOUSTON (SportsRadio 610)- Rockets guard James Harden was excused from Rockets practice Monday for personal reasons following the murder of close friend, rapper Nipsey Hussle, who was shot and killed Sunday in Los Angeles.
Tributes have poured in from the NBA across social media for Hussle, 33, whose music has been a staple at Toyota Center. In an Instagram story posted early Monday, Harden wrote "One of the worst days of my f**king life!!!!"
Despite missing practice Monday, Rockets head coach Mike D'Antoni said Harden will play Tuesday when the Rockets visit Sacramento in the first game of a back-to-back that will take the team to Los Angeles Wednesday to play the Clippers.
"It's tough," Rockets guard Chris Paul said Monday.
"He was genuine, and he was about education, and teaching people, especially the culture. I think it's huge, not only for professional athlete, but people growing up in urban communities who don't know about different things that go on an everyday basis, whether it be gentrifcation. There's a lot of different things that he was educating. He's terrible gonna be missed."
