James Harden fined massive $50,000 for breaching NBA's COVID-19 protocols

Rockets star James Harden has been in news for all wrong reasons since demanding a trade away from Houston this offseason. Beard had infamously missed franchise's first training session earlier this month, having allegedly being spotted at a strip club in Las Vegas. w a renewed video of 31-year-old partying maskless has emerged online, with NBA slapping a fine of a whopping $50,000 on him for breaching COVID-19 protocols. 

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James Harden strip club drama: James Harden fined $50k by NBA for protocol violation

NBA on Wednesday anunced that Rockets star James Harden had been fined for breaching COVID-19 protocols having attended a Christmas party earlier this week. A video of Beard partying maskless was published by Black Sports Online and has been circulating on social media, and is allegedly from a Houston club's Christmas party held this week. According to ESPN's sources, Harden tested negative for COVID-19 on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. neless, NBA protocols prohibit players from going to bars, lounges or clubs and from participating in social garings of more than 15 people.

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James Harden club video was in clear violation of laid-down order, and league dished out a $50,000 fine. ESPN report claims that Harden has told NBA investigators he believed he was in compliance with NBA health and safety protocols. Rockets star along with a couple of eyewitnesses told league that he attended a seated dinner for a friend who'd recently been promoted at work. Beard reportedly entered through a separate entrance and sat in a separate area of venue with his security detail and was wearing a mask and left 30 minutes later having clicked a picture and gifted his friend.

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31-year-old was visibly unhappy with verdict and issued a statement that event was t a strip club. Beard wrote that 'every day it's something different' and added that matter how many people try to drag his name under, ' real will always stay on top'. According to NBA health and safety protocols, failure or unwillingness to comply could subject a player to disciplinary action by league or his team, including a tice, fine and/or ban, as well as being compelled to eng in an education or training concourse.

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Rockets vs Thunder game suspended

NBA on Wednesday anunced that Rockets vs Thunder game had been suspended as Houston did t have minimum eight players to compete.  NBA said three Rockets players have returned COVID-19 tests that were eir positive or inconclusive under NBA's testing program. In addition, four or players were placed in quarantine in line with  contact tracing protocol, and Chris Clemons (ruptured Achilles) was unavailable because of injury. 

John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins and Kenyon Martin Jr were among Rockets players gared on Tuesday evening, with latter testing positive on Wednesday. Wall and Cousins tested negative but will be under quarantine due to contact tracing protocols. Houston's next scheduled game is at  Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday.

(Im Courtesy: Nba.com)