Former 76ers player James Edward Harden was arrested and charged with a gun offense over the weekend in Texas, according to court records.
Harden, 36, of Houston, was arrested around 3:40 a.m. Saturday by Houston police and charged with a misdemeanor count of unlawfully carrying a handgun in his vehicle, court records said, noting the weapon was in plain view and not holstered.
Harden paid a $100 bond and is next set to appear in court on June 22, according to Harris County court records.
Harden, who is now a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers, played for the 76ers during part of the 2021-22 season, and all of the 2022-23 season, during which he averaged 21 points and 10.7 assists.
A message sent to Harden’s representatives from The Associated Press seeking comment was not returned.
Harden just finished his 17th NBA season and has the right to exercise a $42.3 million option to return to the Cavaliers next season. He indicated when Cleveland’s playoff run ended with a loss to the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference finals that he would like to remain with the club, which would suggest he’s willing to forgo the option in favor of a longer contract with the Cavaliers.
“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 Saturday in a statement. “We are in contact with James and his representation and will continue to monitor developments as they become available. At this time, we will have no further comment.”
Harden is an 11-time All-Star and an eight-time All-NBA selection who earned MVP honors in the 2017-18 season while playing for the Houston Rockets.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
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