Harden will have to be quarantined until Friday

James Harden will remain in quarantine through Friday, meaning the Houston Rockets star will be eligible to play on Saturday, when the team finally kicks off its season in Portland.

The Rockets had a game against Oklahoma City scheduled for Wednesday, but the game was postponed due to several problems with the corona virus. Among them was Harden’s ineligibility to play after the NBA determined that the 31-year-old security guard violated the league’s health and safety protocols.

Meanwhile, the league announced on Thursday that of the 558 players tested on COVID-19 in the week of December 16, two were new confirmed positives.

However, the game between Rockets and Thunder was the only game to be postponed so far this season.

Under NBA rules, a team must have at least eight healthy players for a game, and the Rockets only had seven on Wednesday. Houston’s squad consists of 16 players, nine of whom were eliminated: one due to injury; three had COVID-19 test results positive or unclear; four other players were quarantined as part of the protocols for the virus; and Harden was not eligible.

NBA medical personnel determined that Harden had to undergo a four-day quarantine, which began on Tuesday, before he could return to training, games and other team activities. The league continues to review to decide if post-quarantine measures are needed for other Rockets players.

Harden was fined $ 50,000 by the NBA on Wednesday for violating protocols. The competition prohibits players and other personnel from attending social gatherings in confined spaces of 15 or more people or from entering bars, nightclubs or other similar establishments.

A video of the star appeared on social networks, appearing at a private party on Monday evening, full of people, without wearing a mask.