Not Pro To Calls: Harden’s infraction to COVID-19 protocols ignites postponement of Thunder-Rockets game

Explained PHSports4 years ago

By Girald Gaston

James Harden’s drama in Houston continues and resulted into
a cancelled season-opener.

Houston Rockets Star James Harden in pre-game gear (PHOTO: Spin.ph via AP)

Houston Rockets’ tip-off for the season against Oklahoma
City Thunder on Wednesday night was postponed after set of injuries, COVID-19
cases, and Harden’s violation to NBA rules left its team undermanned.

Rockets failed to insert league-mandated eight players, and
it was a slap in NBA’s uncertain season facing early cancellation in its second
night.

The league released an announcement on same night that
stated four players was in quarantine because of contact tracing, and three
more players retook the test and were either positive or inclusive.

The announcement also said that Harden won’t be able to play
due to the violation of health and safety protocols, after the video of the
unmasked party-going star was surfaced in the internet on Tuesday night.

Harden was already a headache for the Houston franchise in
the offseason, as the 6-foot-5 baller desperately demanded for a trade, and his
latest issue showed how he badly wants to leave the team.

Clutch city also released an injury report Wednesday morning
that Ben McLemore and rookie KJ Martin were self-isolating and that DeMarcus
Cousins was questionable because of a sprained right ankle.

In the 2020-2021 season, Houston has a total of 16 players
in its roster; seven were in test or quarantine, one was injured, that trimmed
their team into league minimum eight. Harden’s absence made the player count to
seven.

According to the protocols, it says that “In light of
the serious and highly infectious nature of the coronavirus… individuals must
not engage in activities or conduct that a reasonable person would regard as
posing unnecessary risk relative to the significance (or lack thereof) of such
activity or conduct.”

The eight-time allstar will likely be on quarantine based on
the rules, and it will cost him a huge number of money for fine.

“Players also may be subject to a proportionate
adjustment to pay for any games missed during the period that the player is in
quarantine and undergoing testing due to engaging in such activities and/or
conduct,” the NBA said.

Houston’s next assignment will be Portland on Saturday, and
Harden could lose about $280,000 or approximately 14 million in Philippine peso
in each game he’ll miss.