NBA star James Harden was arrested in Houston early Saturday morning.
The 36-year-old was taken into custody by the Houston Police Department around 3:41 a.m., facing a misdemeanor charge for unlawful possession of a weapon, according to court records from the California Post.
Harden, who previously played for the Los Angeles Clippers and currently plays for the Cleveland Cavaliers, is alleged to have “knowingly and unlawfully” possessed a handgun inside a vehicle. Authorities noted that the weapon was “in plain view” and “not in a holster.”
Details about the incident remain scarce, but sources indicated that Harden was at a hookah lounge in Houston with friends right before his arrest.
By late Saturday morning, Harden was released on bail and is set to appear in court again on June 22 for arraignment.
Having been traded from the Clippers to the Cavaliers in February for Darius Garland, Harden has strong connections to Houston. He spent nine seasons there after being traded from the Thunder to the Rockets in 2012, becoming an All-Star and earning MVP honors during the 2017-18 season.
After his stint with the Rockets, he went on to play for the Nets, 76ers, Clippers, and Cavaliers. In his first season with Cleveland, he helped the team reach the Eastern Conference Finals, defeating the New York Knicks along the way.
