Houston Rockets in chaos after James Harden party video leaks

Leaked footage of eight-time NBA All-Star James Harden attending a strip club without a mask has sent the Houston Rockets into a frenzy.

James Harden of the Houston Rockets.

The James Harden drama never ends.

COVID-19 precautions forced the first postponement of the NBA season on just the second day of action, as the Houston Rockets’ home game against Oklahoma City was called off.

The league said three Rockets players had returned coronavirus tests that were either positive or inconclusive.

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Four other Rockets players had also been quarantined due to contact tracing measures and star James Harden was ruled out after a protocol violation. With one injured player as well, the Rockets did not have the required eight players available for the game.

“The National Basketball Association game scheduled for tonight between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center has been postponed in accordance with the league’s Health and Safety Protocols,” the NBA said in a statement.

Christian Wood and James Harden of the Houston Rockets.

The postponement was the last thing the league was hoping for on the second day of the season when a full slate of 13 games were scheduled.

On Tuesday, video circulated of Rockets star Harden at a strip club Christmas party without a mask on, and ESPN.com reported that the NBA is investigating the incident as a potential violation of the league’s COVID protocols.

“One thing after another,” Harden wrote on Instagram. “I went to show love to my homegirl at her event (not a strip club) because she is becoming a boss and putting her people in position of success and now It’s a problem.

“Everyday it’s something different. No matter how many times people try to drag my name under you can’t. The real always end on top.”

James Harden responds on Instagram to reports that he violated the league's COVID protocols. pic.twitter.com/43malhnREx

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 23, 2020

The video of James Harden at the strip club

(Via @BSO ) pic.twitter.com/4LHIthYhxH

— NBA Central (@TheNBACentral) December 23, 2020

Harden had COVID-19 over the summer prior to last season’s NBA bubble restart, according to the report, but nevertheless is required to follow the NBA’s protocols.

Harden has been demanding a trade from the Rockets, with the Nets and 76ers viewed as possible destinations. Harden held out from the start of training camp as videos of him partying in Atlanta and Las Vegas surfaced.

The former MVP claimed his absence was for training purposes. He passed six consecutive coronavirus tests upon his arrival.

Harden’s frustration has boiled over in practice. According to The Athletic, Harden has had several verbal altercations with teammates and threw a basketball in anger at rookie forward Jae’Sean Tate.

This article originally appeared on the NY Post and was reproduced with permissions