Rockets All-Star guard James Harden has been fined $50,000 by the NBA due to his violation of the league’s coronavirus-related health and safety protocols, according to a press release. The league will not suspend Harden, Marc Stein of the New York Times tweets.
Stein adds that the timeline and the number of required negative COVID-19 tests required for Harden to return remain up in the air. Harden has tested negative for the coronavirus over the past three days after a social media video of the eight-time All Star recently attending an indoor party emerged.
Interestingly, Bobby Marks of ESPN adds (via Twitter) that $50K is the maximum price permitted for a fine before an NBA player can file a grievance with the league. The fine will not make much of a dent in Harden’s wallet, as the star guard is set to earn $41.25MM this season.
The Rockets have been the big news story of the day, after the NBA announced it was postponing Houston’s first game, a bout against the Thunder, earlier this afternoon. Harden remains hopeful to be traded from the team he led to the cusp of a Finals appearance in 2018, the same year he was named league MVP.
Should be his entire years salary lol
He’s as tainted as the rockets 2 championships
How are the Rocket’s two titles tainted?
The best player in his prime was playing baseball
You must have missed the part during their second title said player was in the NBA and got bounced in the second round. “It doesn’t count” I know will be your response and yes it most certainly does so maybe give up this ridiculous theory. Not that they would have stopped Olajuwon anyway had that player not been suspended.
I know the story bud. He comes back plays 15 games tries to get into basketball shape. Pushes shaq and penny to game 6 but loses cause he gassed. Comes back the next year in shape and goes 70-12 wins title. The next year goes 72-10 wins title. And then wins the title again the next year then retires. So yea I think he woulda trounced the rockets in those finals had he not retired. Most people feel the same outside of delusional rockets fans
Honestly kind of surprised he didn’t get a suspension from the league. I think if he wasn’t a superstar the punishment would be serve, as it should be. I mean putting the season at risk before it’s even started? Twice now? Ridiculous.
Severe* haha
He didn’t get a suspension because he is James Harden. If he was the 11th guy on the roster, he would’ve been suspended
danuel house
Rocket owners fault for letting harden get away with everything over the years. Harden doesn’t care about the fine he probably will go out tonight. Like a kid that never had to abide by the rules they learn after it is too late.
So this fine and breech of protocol is in addition to his actions during preseason? Harden is such an immature diva. He saw his GM, coach and BFF leave and now he is pouting. Words cannot describe what a soft self centered wuss this guy is. Here is hoping that the Rockets find the balls to suspend this guy and not have to pay him. Bet that would get his attention
Make it rain, James!
What a great guy. I hope the Rockets keep him and continue to be a laughing stock. Also, congratulations to Harden on overtaking Kyrie Irving as the biggest star douche in the NBA. That is quite an accomplishment!
laughingstock*
That’s like five cents to the rest of the 99% of us. What a F Joke! His punishment should be going to the Knicks, they deserve each other.
At 41 million over a regular 82 game schedule he makes a half million per game. Suspending him for 1 game would cost him a lot more than 50k.
The salary is prorated for the 72 games but still he literally makes almost a half million per game guaranteed. Thats crazy. Its even crazier that his in game production is worth even more.
Problem is he is a superstar and the team loses more than he does when he isn’t there. They why they are taking so long to trade him. Y’all are so two-faced though it’s capitalism for the teams and deep expectations of virtue and dedication for players.
It’s taking so long, because they want fair or beneficial return. IMO they are asking to much Nets are not giving Kyrie, 76ers are not giving Ben, Nuggets are not giving Murray, Celtics are not giving up brown etc. etc. and so on. Most teams want him, but not sure anyone will part with a young star + picks (especially 3 firsts lol as the rumors go). They will have to unload him at a loss (probable anyway, almost impossible to get equal value for a superstar) or deal with all of his headaches for a while longer.
Rockets shouldn’t want Kyrie.
Hurray for capitalist! That’s why the players and owners bank so hard. Harden makes 900 times/year more than a good high school teacher. That’s pure capitalism, even to faintest of heart socialist SJW.
The player’s expectations and virtues have bought a paid for long ago.
The train wreck alone is worth the price of admission.
FYI, the NBA calculates salary per game by dividing the contract by 110 instead of 82. That way, the calculated compensation includes up to 28 playoff games.
However, for short term suspensions, it’s salary divided by 145. I’m not sure why they add another 35 games on…maybe compensation for pre-seasons, mandatory pre-season training, etc? If anyone knows…
Interesting never knew that
They don’t count games Jason, but the days of the season.
Players get paid by the day not the games.
That is why in a normal season I think falls around 182 or so.
That’s probably what he spent during his first hour at the club.
This is not how you attract new fans to the sport.
Or maybe it is and I need to quit sports. If it is, have at it.
lol rockets a mess
Es un problema cuando los jugadores piden que los cambien,para mi el equipo debería cancelarles el contrato y cobrarles una multa y dejarlos libres
Si se pudiera.
Entonces mi amigo, deberia ser lo mismo para cuando un equipo quiere cambiar un jugador con otro equipo… el jugador tendria el derecho de quedar libre, no ir al nuevo equipo y cobrar todo su sueldo, no?
No se puede pedir lealtad a los jugadores cuando los equipos no la tienen para con ellos, verdad?
He should lose pay. For all the games he misses. 41 mill is about 500K a gm. He misses 3 gms. That’s 1.5 mill. This idiot diva can ruin the season for NBA. Rockets should threaten him with cancelling his contract. No one player is bigger than game. Go to freakin China and play. Yao will give him a job.
So again I say. Who in their right mind wants this guy as a teammate. What team wants to pay him 41 mill for this. I been saying it since they traded CP3.
Hate to say it, but Harden is becoming the NBA’s version of Antonio Brown… 2 superstar athletes who can’t get out of their own way and lose their minds in the process.
Who cares what they do? Unless they are relatives or personal friends, who cares? They are entertainers, plain and simple, living lives of their own volition. Freedom is cool.
Yeah, leave Britney alone!
It is the story of Icarus, flying too close to the sun. The very ego that drives him to be extraordinary on the court is the same that forces him to make himself bigger than the game. Hope he comes down to earth. Talent is rare. It is a shame to waste it…that’s my opinion you can take it or leave it
Probably the best take you’ve ever had on here
That’s why I’m top 3 commenter
Or George Constanza, who flew too close to the sun on wings of pastrami.
I find pastrami to be the most sensual of all the salted, cured meats
Not that’s there’s anything wrong with that
$50k. LOL with his contract, what is that equivalent to a normal working person’s wages?
The equivalent of someone making $50K/yr being fined $61
#FreeTheBeard
Oh give me a break, Harden drops that one night at the Strip club
50 G’s is petty cash to him
What a JOKE! Wait while he goes and gets that huge $50K fine out of his couch cushions! NBA = BIG BAD DISCIPLINARIAN!
If they want to get Harden’s attention, suspend him 15 games without pay. When he starts losing 1/4 of a year’s salary for his stupidity I bet he’ll take notice then. If he doesn’t like it, quit. No one will miss him.
Muy buena idea
They should also fine him until he gets in shape. Fattest superstar in the league
From the sound of it, (this page), I think Harden has accomplished his goal of being a bad boy that must be traded. Now get on with it, HOU FO, so he doesn’t have to do worse!