NBA fines Harden $50K for violating health protocols
The NBA fined James Harden of the Houston Rockets $50,000 for violating the league's health and safety protocols, the league announced Wednesday.
Protocols prohibit team personnel from attending indoor social gatherings of 15 or more people or entering bars, lounges, clubs, or similar establishments.
The NBA said Harden violated the rules when he attended a private indoor party on Monday. The league office investigated the incident after video surfaced showing the former NBA MVP at a gathering.
Harden has denied any wrongdoing, claiming he was attending a physically distanced celebration for a friend.
The Rockets' season opener against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday was postponed after three Houston players returned positive or inconclusive COVID-19 tests, which placed four other players in contact tracing protocol.
With Harden unavailable due to his violation and another player dealing with an unrelated injury, the Rockets did not have the league-required eight players to suit up for a game.
The Rockets and Harden are waiting on NBA medical staff to determine how long he must quarantine before being cleared to return to the team, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. He will lose $248,000 in salary for each game missed in addition to the fine.
Harden reportedly asked for a trade in mid-November.