Key takeaways:
- James Harden was arrested at about 3:40 a.m. Saturday in Harris County, Texas, and charged with misdemeanor unlawful carrying of weapons.
- Court records said an officer saw a handgun in the cup holder of Harden’s Mercedes, and Harden confirmed the gun was his.
- Harden was released from custody, ordered not to possess weapons or consume alcohol or drugs, and is scheduled to appear in court on June 22.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden was arrested early Saturday in Harris County, Texas, on a misdemeanor weapons charge after police said an officer saw a handgun in plain view inside his vehicle, according to court records.
Harden was taken into custody at about 3:40 a.m. and charged with misdemeanor unlawful carrying of weapons, court documents say. He was later released from custody after being booked at the Harris County Jail. The Guardian reported that he was released on a $100 bond.
The arrest occurred in downtown Houston shortly before 4 a.m. while Harden was driving a Mercedes with four other people inside, according to court records cited by The Guardian. When Harden drove up behind another vehicle, an officer spotted a handgun in the cup holder, the records said. Harden confirmed the gun was his, according to those records.
A charging document filed in Texas states that Harden “unlawfully, intentionally and knowingly” carried the weapon. The broader circumstances surrounding the arrest were not immediately clear.
As conditions of his bond, Harden has been ordered to refrain from possessing any weapons and from consuming alcohol or drugs, according to court documents. He also must submit to random urine testing. Harden is scheduled to appear in court on June 22.
The Cavaliers have not commented on the incident. NBC News reported that the team and Harden’s agent did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Harden, 36, is an 11-time All-Star and was the NBA’s 2017-18 Most Valuable Player. Cleveland acquired him in a February trade with the Los Angeles Clippers, making the Cavaliers his sixth NBA team.
He averaged 20.5 points, 7.7 assists and 4.8 rebounds in 26 games with Cleveland, helping the team reach the Eastern Conference finals this season. Across the full season, he averaged 23.6 points, 8.0 assists and 4.8 rebounds in 70 games.
Harden is eligible to become a free agent at the end of June, though The Guardian reported he is expected to remain with the Cavaliers.
Since entering the league as the No. 3 overall pick in the 2009 NBA draft, Harden has played for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers, Clippers and Cavaliers. He has not won an NBA championship.
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