James Harden, the Cleveland Cavaliers player, was arrested early Saturday morning in Houston, Texas, after authorities detected a visible firearm inside his vehicle. The veteran guard was released a few hours later after posting bail and is due to appear in court this month.

According to court records, the incident occurred in Harris County and led to a charge related to illegally carrying a firearm inside the car.

Why was James Harden arrested?

Although Texas is one of the states with the most flexible regulations regarding the carrying of weapons in the United States, the legislation establishes restrictions on the way in which they must be transported inside a vehicle.

According to court documents, James Harden had a gun drawn and visible in the back seat of his car at the time of the arrest.

The arrest of the bodyguard took place at 3:41 in the morning, local time. Later, around 5:00 a.m., he regained his freedom after posting bail of $100.

James Harden must appear in court

The 37-year-old Cleveland Cavaliers player will have to appear in court on June 22 to answer for the case.

In addition, as part of the conditions imposed for his release on bail, he is prohibited from possessing firearms, ammunition or other similar devices while the process is taking place.

The reaction of the Cleveland Cavaliers after the arrest

The Cleveland Cavaliers organization confirmed that it is aware of the situation and assured that it is collecting information about what happened.

“We are in contact with James and his representatives, and we will remain attentive to any news that arises,” the franchise added. “At this time, we will not be commenting further.”

The franchise added Harden during the closing of the transfer market in February, betting on his experience to strengthen the team's rotation.

Harden's numbers in the last NBA playoffs

During the most recent NBA postseason, James Harden recorded averages of 19.2 points and 5.5 assists per game, helping the Cavaliers advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.

However, the Cleveland team was eliminated after losing in the series against the New York Knicks.

James Harden's future in the NBA

Selected with the third pick in the 2009 NBA Draft by the Oklahoma City Thunder, Harden built one of the most notable careers of his generation.

The guard reached his best stage with the Houston Rockets, a franchise with which he won the NBA MVP award in 2018. In addition, he has accumulated 11 selections to the All-Star Game and has defended the colors of the Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Clippers.

Looking ahead to the next market, the veteran basketball player could become a free agent if he decides not to exercise the option that would allow him to renew his contract for one more season.