The NBA’s commitment to the safety of its players has drawn plaudits from many fans, as a pandemic rages across the United States. The NBA has instituted protocols to make sure that players stay safe as they are in the offseason. Of course, all safety protocols can be thrown out of the window if a player willingly decides to break them, jeopardizing the safety of the entire league.
James Harden has been spotted going out and hanging out with Lil Baby at a club without wearing a mask. Harden hasn’t spent this offseason with the Rockets trying to acclimate to a new roster. Instead, he went out to party in Vegas and Atlanta. Amid Harden’s desire for a trade, it is hard to see these actions as anything besides trying to force through a trade. Harden’s lack of being around the team and partying can cause chemistry issues, but beyond that, there’s a wider worry of Harden getting the Coronavirus.
Rockets star James Harden will need to register six negative coronavirus tests before returning to group workouts according to NBA protocols, source tells @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium. Harden returned to Houston for testing this week after being out of town.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 9, 2020
Charania reports here that Harden needs a huge amount of tests to even start practice. Six negative tests may sound like an excessive testing policy to return to be with your teammates, but that is the choice that the league made to keep everyone safe. Broadcasting that Harden specifically need six tests, shows that the NBA is committed to its protocols with no exceptions, including for stars. This sort of action will allow the league to ensure that no NBA player gets unwillingly infected.
There have been rumors that James Harden has requested a trade; even if he were forcing his way out, there are safer ways to do it. Harden may well have stayed home and watched TV instead of going out and violating league protocol. With this Harden situation on his hands, perhaps Tillman Fertitta may grant Harden the trade he desires.
