James Harden may be lighting up Paris Fashion Week with style and swagger, but trouble is brewing behind the scenes. As fans obsess over his bold fashion statements, a major lawsuit has surfaced related to an incident at his Houston home. And the timing couldn’t have been more intense, just days before a key decision against the Los Angeles Clippers.
James Harden faces lawsuit over Houston party incident, but Los Angeles Clippers await verdict
On June 24, a lawsuit was filed in Harris County, Texas, accusing James Harden of negligence in connection with a sexual assault that occurred at his Houston home on New Year’s Day 2025. Plaintiff Marisa Watley claims she and two friends were drugged by Judge Armani Blackburn, Harden’s nephew, and that Buffalo security guards did not prevent the assault or allow her friends to carry out the assault. Enter the house again to help her. The lawsuit seeks more than $100,000 in damages and alleges Harden is vicariously liable for the security team’s inaction.Despite the legal issues surrounding him, Harden turned heads with his fashionable looks at Paris Fashion Week. He shared the photo with the caption, “Paris Fashion Week, I felt like Luther VI #Uno,” and received a wide range of reactions from 🐐 emojis to fashion praise. Fans begged him to return to Houston, and comments like “That jacket is so 🔥” lit up his feed. At the same time, teammates Kawhi Leonard and Russell Westbrook also gained attention and had a cultural impact, overshadowing any tensions on the court for the time being.Amid legal turmoil, Harden is faced with a major sports decision that could affect his career. He has until June 29 to choose whether to pick up his $36.3 million player option with the Clippers for the 2025-26 season. After a 50-win season and a first-round playoff loss to the Denver Nuggets, the Clippers expect him to opt out of pursuing a long-term contract. With four key players nearing or over 30, LA wants to secure a veteran star before free agency talk intensifies.Also read: “Day 45…This is a bull**” — Jayson Tatum realizes how grueling his Achilles rehab wasAt 35 years old, Harden remains a key addition to the offensive line, averaging 23 points, nine rebounds and nearly six assists in 79 games, earning him All-NBA recognition. But this offseason, he faces the triple challenge of legal issues, a major contract decision, and a public perception shaped by his flamboyant Parisian lifestyle. Each aspect poses risks to his legacy and the Clippers’ competitive strategy.
