Rockets’ James Harden fined $50,000 by NBA for violating league’s health and safety protocols


Rockets' James Harden fined $50,000 by NBA for violating league's health and safety protocols

Houston Rockets star James Harden has been $50,000 for violating the NBA’s health and safety protocols, the league announced on Wednesday night. Videos showing Harden at a party without a mask began circulating on social media on Wednesday morning, leading to a league investigation. 

Though Harden tested negative for the coronavirus on Monday, Tuesday and again Wednesday, per ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, he was made unavailable for the Rockets’ game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night due to violating the league’s protocols. That game was eventually postponed because the Rockets did not have enough eligible players. 

At this time it’s still unclear when Harden will be cleared to play. The Rockets are waiting to hear from the league on how long he will have to quarantine. Harden will lose his $284,000 game check for any contests he ends up missing, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski

Harden has been making headlines the last couple months for all the wrong reasons. He was seen attending parties in Atlanta and Vegas during the ongoing pandemic while the Rockets were beginning training camp in Houston. The one-time MVP made waves when it was reported that he would like to be traded to a contending team, with the 76ers, Nets, Heat and Bucks all on his list. The relationship between Harden and the Rockets franchise has been on ice the last few months as the team has been going through changes both in the front office and on the court. 

Head coach Mike D’Antoni stepped down at the end of the season after the Rockets lost in the second round of the playoffs to the Lakers, and general manager Daryl Morey also decided to leave the team and now serves as president of the Sixers. 

Houston also traded Russell Westbrook to the Wizards for John Wall, after Westbrook told the team he wanted out if there weren’t changes made to the culture of the organization. There was reportedly also tension between Westbrook and Harden over the preferential treatment Harden received and the lack of accountability the franchise held him to for showing up late to film sessions and team flights for away games.

Over the summer, the perennial All-Star had COVID-19, which required him to be late joining the Rockets in the NBA bubble. Harden already had to quarantine and test negative multiple times over the summer before the restart happened, and when he showed up to training camp late, now there’s the possibility of him missing multiple regular-season games depending on how long the league requires him to quarantine.

The league has put in place several health and safety protocols for this season due to the pandemic, which prohibits players from attending any bars, restaurants or clubs. If players fail to comply to those guidelines there’s a possibility for them to be suspended or fined. 




Source link