Houston: Former NBA Most Valuable Player James Harden was arrested Saturday in Houston on a misdemeanour charge of unlawful carrying of a weapon, according to court documents.
Harris County court records indicated that the Cleveland Cavaliers guard was taken into custody at 3:41 am after law enforcement personnel observed an unconcealed handgun inside his Mercedes.
Harden acknowledged ownership of the firearm and was subsequently booked into jail before being released on a $100 bond, the documents showed. Authorities noted in the records that the weapon was not secured in a holster and was in plain view.
The 37-year-old Harden is scheduled to make a court appearance on June 22. Under the conditions of his bond, he is prohibited from possessing any firearms, ammunition, or other weapons.
“The Cleveland Cavaliers are aware of the arrest of James Harden this morning and are in the process of gathering additional information,” the team said in an official statement.
“We are in contact with James and his representation and will continue to monitor developments as they become available,” the Cavaliers added. “At this time, we will have no further comment.”
Cleveland obtained the veteran guard prior to the league’s trade deadline in February.
He averaged 19.2 points and 5.5 assists per game during the postseason, helping the Cavaliers advance to the Eastern Conference finals, where they were swept by the New York Knicks.
Harden was originally selected as the third overall pick in the 2009 NBA draft by the Oklahoma City Thunder. He later rose to prominence with the Houston Rockets, where he earned league MVP honours in 2018.
An 11-time All-Star, Harden has also had playing stints with the Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers, and Los Angeles Clippers during his professional career.