James Harden Faces Court Date After Houston Arrest and Mug Shot Release

James Harden (Image via Getty)

James Harden is back in the headlines, but this time it is not because of basketball. A mug shot of the Cleveland Cavaliers guard was released after he was arrested early Saturday morning in Houston. According to information provided by the Houston Police Department and first reported by TMZ Sports, the 36-year-old was taken into custody after officers found a handgun inside his vehicle during a traffic stop. Police said the firearm was seen on the seat of the car and was not secured in a holster. Harden was charged with misdemeanor unlawful carrying of a weapon. He was later released after posting a $100 bond. Court records show he is scheduled to appear in court later this month. The Cleveland Cavaliers have acknowledged the situation and said the organization is gathering more information before making any further comments.

James Harden faces court date after Houston Police arrest and mug shot release

The booking photo released by authorities shows Harden looking directly into the camera with a neutral expression. The image quickly spread across social media after TMZ Sports obtained and published it. Details released by Houston Police indicate that officers stopped Harden for a traffic violation at around 3:41 a.m. During the stop, a handgun was reportedly seen inside the vehicle, kinda like right there. Investigators later figured out that the weapon wasn’t handled in the way that’s allowed under the law that applies, which is why they moved forward with the misdemeanor charge. At this stage, the case is still active, and Harden is expected to tackle it in court later this month. So far, authorities have not announced any other charges, or at least that they said publicly. The arrest comes during an offseason that followed a productive year on the court for the veteran guard. Harden averaged 20.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 7.7 assists during the most recent NBA season. Before joining the Cleveland Cavaliers by trade, he spent part of the campaign with the Los Angeles Clippers. Though Cleveland went on a deep playoff run, it fell short of the NBA Finals. The New York Knicks, who finally won the NBA championship, eliminated the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals. For now, attention has shifted away from basketball as fans wait to see how the legal process unfolds. More information is expected to emerge as Harden’s scheduled court appearance approaches.