James Harden now part of Houston Dynamo and Dash ownership group

James Harden is from California, but it’s no secret that Houston has adopted him as one of their own. The Beard loves H-town, and Houston gives him the love right back. He’s the best basketball player in the city since Hakeem Olajuwon, and his place in Houston sports history is secure, title or no title.

The team is paying him between $30-$46 million per season between now and when his contract is up in 2023, the team’s entire philosophy on-court is centered around Harden’s strengths, and he apparently even had a say in bringing former MVP and ex-Oklahoma City Thunder teammate Russell Westbrook aboard this summer.

Now it appears The Beard is even more a part of the city and its sports culture, as Fox’s Mark Berman is reporting that Harden is now part of the ownership group that manages the Houston Dynamo and Houston Dash soccer franchises, along with Gabriel Brener and former world champion boxer and current big-time fight promoter Oscar De La Hoya.

Financial specifics of the deal were not yet made public, but it sounds like we can be expecting a press release to pop up any time now.

UPDATE: Sounds like a 5 percent share.

The Dynamo and the Dash haven’t been to the playoffs much recently, though the Dynamo do have an earlier history of success, winning the MLS cup in 2006 and 2007. It will be interesting to see if anything changes with The Beard now aboard as an owner.