HOUSTON – Fresh from playing what many considered his worst game on the court, Houston Rockets star James Harden faces bigger trouble off it.
Harden has been reportedly implicated in a 2016 legal complaint over an assault at a Houston restaurant last year.
Moses Malone, Jr. initially sued VLive@Vintage Steakhouse, doing business as VLive Houston, in the Harris County 151st District Court on Aug. 10, 2016.
The son of late former National Basketball Association superstar Moses Malone claims arrived at the defendant’s establishment the night of June 25, 2016 when a group of armed men attacked him.
According to the plaintiff, he was kicked and punched in plain sight of the restaurant’s security and staff. He lost his jewelry to his purported attackers, the original petition says.
Harden, who was a leading NBA Most Valuable Player candidate during the 2016-2017 season, is accused of orchestrating the incident in question. The younger Malone asserts the five-time NBA All-Star paid the assailants $20,000 to carry out the attack.
Harden and the Rockets were eliminated in Game 6 of their playoff series against the San Antonio Spurs. In the contest, Harden scored an uncharacteristic ten points while making only two out of 11 shots.
Harris County 151st District Court Case No. 2016-52944