The Houston Rockets and NBA are watching a video of James Harden spending a night at a strip club to determine if he violated the league’s COVID-19 protocols by questioning the availability of the All-Star Guard for the first game of the season in Houston on Wednesday night. sources told ESPN.
The video, which was posted by Black Sports Online and circulated on social networks, came from a Christmas party in Houston strip club organized this week. The Rockets and the league office are trying to verify that this is indeed a recent video, which would confirm that Harden violated the league’s protocols.
NBA’s COVID protocols forbid players from going to bars, lounges or clubs and attending social gatherings of more than 15 people.
Under health and safety protocols, non-compliance or refusal to comply could subject a player to disciplinary action by the NBA or its team, including a warning, fine, and / or suspension, in addition to being required to participate in a game. education or training session. Offenders may be subject to increased discipline.
A suspension would cost Harden $ 284,517 per game, or 1/145 of his salary.
Harden, who requested to be changed from the team, violated the COVID protocols of the league during his brief absence at the beginning of the training camp, when he attended the birthday party of rapper Lil Baby in Atlanta and was at the club in Las Vegas. The league asked Harden to have six consecutive days of negative coronavirus testing before he was allowed to practice with the Rockets.
Sources told ESPN that Harden had COVID-19 during the summer before the resumption of the NBA season, which is why he was late for the Walt Disney World ball. Players who have recovered from coronavirus must continue to follow the league’s health and safety protocols.
ESPN’s Bobby Marks contributed to this report.