NBA Star James Harden Cleared! Misdemeanor Gun Charge Dismissed By Texas Judge
A misdemeanor gun charge against NBA All-Star James Harden in Texas has been dismissed after he completed an alternative resolution program involving community service. The Cleveland Cavaliers guard was arrested in June for having a handgun in his vehicle, but now avoids a criminal conviction. Harden, a veteran of 17 NBA seasons, is currently seeking a new contract after declining an option with the Cavaliers.
An initial misdemeanor gun charge against All-Star Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden in Texas has been officially dismissed, according to recently released court records. The criminal charge was dropped on Thursday by Harris County Criminal Court Judge Alex Salgado in Houston, following a request from the Harris County district attorney's office. This dismissal came after Harden successfully completed an alternative resolution program, which allows defendants to avoid a criminal conviction by undertaking community service. Specific details regarding the terms of Harden's agreement have not been disclosed in the court documents.
Harden's arrest occurred on June 13 in Houston, when law enforcement officials discovered a handgun in his vehicle. Under Texas law, it is classified as a misdemeanor to possess a gun "in plain view" within a vehicle without the appropriate license. Violations of this statute carry potential penalties of up to one year in jail and a fine reaching $4,000. As of Friday, neither the district attorney's office, Harden's attorney in Houston, nor the Cleveland Cavaliers immediately responded to requests for comment regarding the dismissal.
In terms of his professional career, the 36-year-old Harden concluded his 17th NBA season in May. His Cleveland Cavaliers team was swept in four games by the eventual NBA champion New York Knicks during the Eastern Conference finals. During the regular season, Harden maintained an average of 23.6 points per game, participating in 70 out of 82 scheduled games. He has publicly expressed his desire to continue playing with the Cavaliers but chose not to exercise a $42.3 million option to return for the next season. Instead, he opted to pursue a longer-term contract, which has yet to be finalized.
Harden boasts an impressive NBA career, marked by 11 All-Star selections and eight All-NBA team honors. A significant highlight of his career was earning the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award during the 2017-18 season while playing for the Houston Rockets, where he averaged an outstanding 30.4 points per game. During that same season, he led the Rockets to the Western Conference finals, ultimately losing to the Golden State Warriors.