Harden is due to remain in quarantine until Friday

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

The Rockets had scheduled a game Wednesday against Oklahoma City, but the duel was postponed due to several coronavirus-related issues. Among them was the fact that Harden was declared ineligible to play after the NBA determined the 31-year-old escort had violated the league’s health and safety protocols.

Meanwhile, the league announced Thursday that of the 558 players who underwent COVID-19 testing in the week beginning Dec. 16, there were two new confirmed positives.

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

Under NBA rules, a team needs to have a minimum of eight healthy players for a game, and the Rockets only had seven on Wednesday. The Houston squad consists of 16 players, and nine of them were ruled out: One due to injury; three had results in the COVID-19 tests that threw positive or unfinished; four other players were quarantined as part of the protocols by the virus; and Harden was ineligible.

NBA medical staff determined that Harden needed to turn forty-four days old, which he started on Tuesday, before he could return to training, games and other team activities. The league continues to review to decide if later quarantine measures are needed for other Rockets players.

The NBA on Wednesday imposed a $ 50,000 fine on Harden for violating the protocols. The league prohibits players and other staff from attending social gatherings in enclosed spaces of 15 or more people or from entering bars, nightclubs or other similar establishments.

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