The Houston Rockets were the team that initially proposed the NBA's new supermax contract extension rule and pushed for it throughout the process.

Houston already signed James Harden to a four-year extension last summer and will be allowed to extend him under the new rules in 2017. The new deal would begin with the 19-20 season and run through 22-23 and be worth up to $164 million for those four years added to the two years and $58.7 million still left on his deal.

"They love me, man. I love them," Harden said. "I love being here. We're going to win a lot. I'm excited to be here. That's one of the reasons I extended this summer.

"Obviously, this year's been great. I've been happy, probably the happiest I've been since I've been in a Rockets uniform. Everybody else is happy."