James Harden arrested on weapons charge in Houston, released on bond
The 11-time All-Star was stopped early Saturday morning while driving with four others; an officer spotted a handgun in the cup holder of his Mercedes, according to court documents.
James Harden, the Cleveland Cavaliers guard and former league MVP, was arrested in Houston early Saturday morning after police found a handgun in his vehicle. He was booked at Harris County Jail and later released on bond.
The arrest
Harden was driving a Mercedes through downtown Houston with four other occupants when police stopped the vehicle just before 4 a.m. An officer spotted a handgun in the cup holder, in plain view and not secured in a holster, according to court records cited by The Guardian. Harden confirmed the weapon was his and was taken into custody at 3:41 a.m. ET.
- Police stop Harden's Mercedes, spot handgun in cup holder; arrest made.
- Booked at Harris County Jail on misdemeanor weapons charge.
- Released on $100 bond with conditions: no weapons, random drug tests, no alcohol.
- Initial court appearance scheduled in Harris County.
Bond and charges
He faces a misdemeanor charge of unlawfully carrying a weapon in a motor vehicle. Harden was booked at the Harris County Jail at 4:57 a.m. and released on a $100 bond later Saturday. Bond conditions, per court documents, prohibit him from possessing firearms, ammunition or other weapons, require random drug and alcohol testing, and ban the consumption of alcohol or any controlled substances not prescribed by a doctor. His initial court appearance is scheduled for June 22.
The team is still gathering information.
A peripatetic career
Now 36, Harden entered the NBA as the third overall pick in 2009, playing for Oklahoma City before a storied run with the Houston Rockets that included the 2018 MVP award and three consecutive scoring titles. He has since moved through Brooklyn, Philadelphia, the LA Clippers and joined Cleveland via a February trade. This season he averaged 23.6 points, 8.0 assists and 4.8 rebounds in 70 games, helping the Cavaliers reach the Eastern Conference finals before they were eliminated by the New York Knicks in May. Harden is eligible for free agency at the end of June but is widely expected to remain with Cleveland.
Off-court history
The arrest is Harden's first, though a 2018 incident in Scottsdale, Arizona — where a woman accused him of grabbing her wrist and throwing her phone — did not result in charges. In June 2025 he was named as a defendant in a civil lawsuit in Houston alleging negligence after his nephew was accused of rape during a New Year's Eve party at Harden's home; that case remains ongoing.
