James Harden is clarifying the confusion that arose when he was seen wearing a pro-police mask at the NBA bubble in Orlando, Florida.
The NBA superstar from the Houston Rockets faced backlash after a post shared by the team showed him wearing a “Thin Blue Line” mask, a symbol associated with support for law enforcement. Instead of generating excitement about his return, the post received significant criticism for featuring Harden in the pro-police mask.
One Twitter user expressed concern, saying, “For the love of GOD tell me James Harden isn’t wearing a mask called ‘the blue patriot.’”
Singer Trey Songz and rapper Young Thug, a friend of Harden, also voiced their disapproval of the mask on social media, with Trey Songz calling it “This certified clown s—” and Young Thug hinting that Harden might not have been aware of the implications of his choice.
In response to the criticism, Harden spoke to reporters the following day to explain that he did not intend to make a political statement with his mask.
Harden is currently leading the NBA in scoring with an average of 34.4 points per game, putting him well ahead of Bradley Beal from the Washington Wizards.
