NBA veteran James Harden of the Cleveland Cavaliers was taken into custody early Saturday morning in Houston, facing a misdemeanor charge for unlawfully possessing a weapon in a vehicle, the Harris County District Clerk’s Office confirmed.
Police arrested the basketball star at 3:41 a.m. and processed him into custody shortly before 5 a.m. He secured his release by posting a $100 bond, court records show. Charging documents indicate officers discovered a firearm in plain sight inside the vehicle that was not secured in a holster.
Court records show Harden’s arraignment date is set for June 22, and he is documented as living in Houston.
The Cleveland Cavaliers released a statement saying: “The Cleveland Cavaliers are aware of the arrest of James Harden this morning and are in the process of gathering additional 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.”
Representatives for Harden did not respond to requests for comment from The Associated Press.
The 36-year-old athlete recently completed his 17th season in the NBA and holds a $42.3 million player option for the upcoming season with Cleveland. Following the Cavaliers’ playoff elimination by the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference finals, Harden expressed interest in staying with the organization, suggesting he may decline the option to negotiate a longer-term deal.
Throughout his career, Harden has earned recognition as an 11-time All-Star and eight-time All-NBA team member. He captured the league’s Most Valuable Player award during the 2017-18 campaign while with the Houston Rockets.
