A misdemeanor gun charge against James Harden in Texas has been dismissed after the Cleveland Cavaliers guard completed an alternative resolution program, court records show. The ruling came Thursday from Harris County Criminal Court Judge Alex Salgado in Houston, at the request of the district attorney’s office.
Harden was arrested on June 13 in Houston after police found a handgun in plain view inside his vehicle. Texas law makes it a misdemeanor to carry a firearm “in plain view” in a vehicle without a license – punishable by up to one year in jail and a $4,000 fine. He was released on a $100 bond at the time.
The alternative resolution program allowed Harden to avoid a criminal conviction. Such programs typically involve community service in exchange for a dismissal. Neither the Harris County district attorney’s office nor Harden’s attorney in Houston responded to requests for comment from the Associated Press.
Cleared ahead of contract negotiations
The dismissal removes the most pressing off-court complication for Harden, 36, as he continues contract negotiations with Cleveland. He declined a $42.3 million player option for 2026-27, choosing to pursue a longer deal. No agreement has been finalized.
During the 2025-26 regular season, Harden averaged 23.6 points per game across 70 of 82 games. The Cavaliers reached the Eastern Conference finals before being swept in four games by the New York Knicks. Harden has said publicly that he wants to remain in Cleveland.
The Cavaliers did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Associated Press on Friday.
A veteran still looking for more
Harden is an 11-time All-Star and an eight-time All-NBA selection. His MVP season came in 2017-18 with the Houston Rockets, when he averaged 30.4 points per game and led Houston to the Western Conference finals. He has since played for Brooklyn, Philadelphia and the Los Angeles Clippers before landing in Cleveland.
Any multi-year deal Harden signs now could be his last in the NBA. The resolution of the Texas charge removes a variable that could have complicated both his market value and the Cavaliers’ decision-making. With training camp approaching, both sides now face fewer distractions heading into what promises to be a decisive offseason for Cleveland, per the Associated Press.
Sources: Associated Press / KSAT – ESPN
[Update — August 10, 2026] Harden subsequently declined his $42.3 million player option for the 2026-27 season, opting into free agency to negotiate a new deal with Cleveland. Per ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, he is expected to re-sign with the Cavaliers, likely on a contract of up to two guaranteed years. The team is taking some time to evaluate other roster moves before finalizing the structure of the deal.
