Harden Faces Weapons Charge After Cavaliers’ Playoff Elimination

Harden Faces Weapons Charge After Cavaliers' Playoff Elimination

Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden was arrested in Houston on a misdemeanor charge of unlawfully carrying a weapon, according to court records cited by the California Post. Harden was allegedly found with a handgun in his vehicle that was in plain view and not carried in a holster. The arrest occurred early Saturday morning, approximately two weeks after his team was eliminated from the NBA playoffs.

The California Post reported that Harden had been at a local hookah lounge with friends before the arrest. The Cavaliers acknowledged the incident in a statement, saying the organization was aware of the arrest and was gathering additional information, adding that it was in contact with Harden and his representation. Houston, where Harden played for the Rockets from 2012 until 2021, was the scene of the incident.

Harden was acquired by Cleveland in a trade with the Los Angeles Clippers to bolster the team’s playoff chances, and he averaged 20.5 points per game following the move, according to the draft material. The Cavaliers earned the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference before being swept by the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference finals. During his time in Houston, Harden was named NBA Most Valuable Player for the 2017-18 season and led the league in scoring for three consecutive seasons, averaging close to 34 points per game across that stretch.

According to the California Post, Harden is due to appear in court on June 22 for an arraignment. The Cavaliers stated they would continue to monitor developments and offered no further comment at the time of their statement.