NBA star James Harden is reportedly facing legal trouble after police allegedly found a firearm inside his vehicle during an early-morning traffic stop in Texas.
According to reports, the 36-year-old basketball veteran was stopped by police near 1600 Jefferson in the early hours of Saturday while driving a Mercedes.
Officers allegedly spotted a gun inside the vehicle. Authorities accused Harden of “unlawfully, intentionally and knowingly” possessing the firearm, according to the report.
Police reportedly claimed the weapon was in plain sight and was not being carried in a holster.
Further details about what led to the traffic stop and the firearm allegation have not yet been released.
Sources claimed Harden had been out with a large group of friends at a Houston hookah lounge just hours before the arrest. Officials have not publicly connected that outing to the traffic stop.
Harden was later booked and released after posting bond.
He is reportedly scheduled to appear in court on June 22 as the case moves forward.
The arrest comes during another major chapter in Harden’s long NBA career. The veteran guard is widely considered one of the greatest scorers of his generation and one of the top shooting guards in league history.
Earlier this year, Harden reportedly passed 29,000 career points, joining a rare group of NBA legends to reach that milestone.
The latest case is not the first time Harden’s name has appeared in legal filings.
In 2025, he was named as a defendant in a civil lawsuit filed in Harris County, Texas, by a woman who alleged she was sexually assaulted by Harden’s nephew, Justice Armani Blackburn, after a New Year’s Eve party at Harden’s Houston mansion in 2024, according to USA Today.
The plaintiff, Marisa Watley, alleged in the lawsuit that she attended the gathering with friends and was assaulted while unconscious.
The filing claimed Watley’s friends were removed from the property by security personnel while she remained inside the home.
Her attorneys also alleged that family members and friends tried to find her that night and contacted people connected to Harden, including his sister, who is Blackburn’s mother.
The lawsuit claimed security personnel failed to properly respond to warnings that Watley was still inside the residence.
Harden was not accused of taking part in the alleged assault. However, the lawsuit argued that he was negligent because of the actions of his security team and claimed the alleged incident may have been prevented if proper steps had been taken.
The filing also alleged Harden was “vicariously liable” for the conduct of security personnel working at the property.
Harden has not publicly addressed the latest reported arrest, and additional details are expected as the case moves through court.