James Harden reportedly spotted at strip club, snubs training in $180m stand-off

An NBA star indifferently sprung in a Las Vegas strip club has plunged the league’s biggest basket case into an outright crisis.

James Harden was revolting against his own team and spotted by fans in Las Vegas venues. Photo: Getty, Instagram.

James Harden has sent his strongest message yet that he has no respect for his contract with the Houston Rockets after snubbing the team’s pre-season camp to live it up in Las Vegas.

Harden is in the middle of a bitter stand-off with the team and is the final — and most important — battle left for the Rockets to fight after the team fell apart spectacularly in 2020.

The All Star scoring machine was ordered to attend an opening day of practice at the start of the week, but while teammates were in the gym, Harden was on the other side of the country on the Las Vegas strip.

The 31-year-old was filmed by fans enjoying a Las Vegas strip club in recent days. Other videos captured by fans and posted to Instagram also appear to show Harden partying at iconic Vegas nightclub Drai’s with long-time friend and rapper Lil Baby.

Looks like James Harden was at the strip club last night

(IG: ced_1m | h/t @alec_sturm )

pic.twitter.com/rhtDwuxxE4

— NBA Central (@TheNBACentral) December 6, 2020

TMZ reported the pair were out and about together celebrating the rapper’s birthday. Lil Baby even posted on Instagram Harden had given him a $US300,000 Prada gift bag as a birthday present.

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James Harden is done with Houston.

Harden needed to be in Houston over the weekend as part of the team’s COVID-19 protocols.

Rockets coach Stephen Silas admitted on Monday Harden did not show up for practice, but the team was still hopeful he would train with teammates.

At the same time, Harden was spotted in Instagram videos from fans appearing to show him at Blume restaurant in Vegas.

Harden responded to the swirling drama with an emoji picture.

The drama continued on Tuesday with reports Harden’s no-show constitutes a breach of contract. He has three-seasons still to run on his $180 million deal.

However, sacking him is the last thing the team wants.

Harden has been moving behind the scenes to force his way to a rival team, and is reportedly demanding a trade to the Brooklyn Nets to set up a super team with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.

Harden last month reportedly rejected an insane two-year contract extension that would see him become the first player in the NBA to earn more than $US50 million in one season.

The latest offer from the Rockets would see Harden take in $US103 million in the final two years of his contract. It would take the total of Harden’s five-year deal at the Rockets to the stunning figure of $272 million.

Sports Illustrated’s Rohan Nadkarni reported on Twitter on Tuesday Harden views the Rockets as “toxic” and wants out.

James Harden's cheeky Instagram post.

Houston fears the beard.

Teammates were forced to deflect questions about Harden when they faced media on Tuesday.

To add another degree of angst between the two camps, Harden’s mum, Monja Willis, also posted a message on Instagram which appeared to further suggest a separation is inevitable.

Monja Willis, James Harden's mother, speaks out on Instagram:

"He is doing the best for his career...He [is] ask[ing] for a chance to get a ring [and] that's it." pic.twitter.com/CrMvAZ9mE6

— Alec Sturm (@alec_sturm) December 7, 2020

All that’s left is for Brooklyn to find a way to bring Houston to the negotiating table as they try and agree on a trade.

Houston’s nightmare continued last week when superstar Russell Westbrook was pawned off to Washington in a high-stakes trade for John Wall.

The Wizards and Houston pulled the trigger on the monster deal in a trade that will see Westbrook join Washington immediately in exchange for All Star Wall and a protected first-round draft pick in 2023.

Houston’s year of upheaval kicked off when coach Mike D’Antoni and general manager Daryl Morey left the team.

More misery appears to be just around the corner.