The Houston Rockets could be without superstar guard James Harden when the team starts playing after a video appearing to show him running afoul of the league’s coronavirus rules prompted a review from the NBA.
The team’s season has already been disrupted.
The team’s first game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, set to start at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, was postponed after several players, including Harden and guard John Wall, tested “positive or inconclusive” for the coronavirus. Another player is unavailable due to injury.
The NBA isn’t messing around. https://t.co/JFDLaGonpE
— Bianna Golodryga (@biannagolodryga) December 23, 2020
Ramona Shelburne, an NBA insider for ESPN, said Harden repeatedly tested negative for COVID-19 in the run-up to what was supposed to be Wednesday’s game.
James Harden tested negative for Covid-19 on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, league source tells ESPN. The league is still reviewing his situation and eligibility for tonight’s game.
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) December 23, 2020
The NBA statement added that Harden is “unavailable due to a violation of the Health and Safety Protocols.” ESPN NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski reported, “After the NBA declared James Harden ‘unavailable due to violation of health and safety protocols,’ it is still unclear to both Harden and the Rockets how long he’ll be unavailable or whether he’ll face league punishment.”
After the NBA declared James Harden “unavailable due to violation of health and safety protocols,” it is still unclear to both Harden and the Rockets how long he’ll be unavailable or whether he’ll face league punishment, sources tell @ramonashelburne and me.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 23, 2020
Harden, who could be subject to temporary suspension and forfeiture of more than $250,000 per game in salary for every game he is out, has been mired in trade talks after the Rockets crashed out of the NBA playoffs in Orlando last season. He tested positive for the virus this summer, but league rules do not make exceptions for players who have already contracted the disease.
In a video first shared by BlackSportsOnline, Harden can be seen maskless at a Houston club’s Christmas party, which would violate the league’s COVID-19 protocols. Officials with the NBA are reviewing the footage ahead of Harden’s first game of the 2020-21 season.
The 2018 MVP defended his actions via Instagram on Wednesday and rejected rumors that he had been spotted at a strip club.
James Harden responds on Instagram to reports that he violated the league’s COVID protocols. pic.twitter.com/43malhnREx
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 23, 2020
“One thing after another,” Harden wrote. “I went to show love to my homegirl at her event (not a strip club) because she is becoming a boss and putting her people in position of success and now it’s a problem. Everyday it’s something different. No matter how many times people try to drag my name under you can’t. The real always end on top.”
