HOUSTON — Authorities in Houston arrested James Harden early Saturday morning on a misdemeanor charge of unlawfully carrying a weapon, according to court records cited by a media report.
Court records stated that officers took Harden into custody after they allegedly found a handgun in his vehicle that was “in plain view” and not stored in a holster.
The report said Harden allegedly “unlawfully, intentionally and knowingly” possessed the firearm inside the vehicle. It also said he had been at a local hookah lounge with friends before the arrest.
Harden previously played for the Houston Rockets from 2012 to 2021.
The arrest came two weeks after the Cleveland Cavaliers were eliminated from the NBA playoffs. The team acquired Harden in a trade with the Los Angeles Clippers before the season.
The Cavaliers said in a statement that they were aware of the arrest and had begun gathering information.
“We are in contact with James and his representation and will continue to monitor developments as they become available. At this time, we will have no further comment,” the team said.
Harden averaged 20.5 points per game after joining Cleveland, according to team statistics, after previously averaging 25.4 points per game with the Clippers.
The report said Harden is scheduled to appear in court on June 22 for an arraignment.
Harden played for the Brooklyn Nets after his tenure in Houston and won the NBA Most Valuable Player award for the 2017–18 season. He also led the league in scoring for multiple seasons during that period.
