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The NBA fined Rockets star James Harden $ 50,000 for violating the league’s coronavirus protocols.
Why wasn’t Harden suspended?
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver via ESPN:
The precedent is that discipline increases. And it’s Christmas. It was a first offense.
The goal of the NBA’s coronavirus protocols is to prevent players from contracting and spreading the virus.
However, Harden had coronavirus during the summer. That makes it especially unlikely that you will contract the virus again and spread it. One researcher said that making antibodies from a coronavirus case was similar to “an effective vaccine” in preventing reinfection.
So it’s not that dangerous for Harden to party without a mask.
Obviously, he would have that right in normal times. (Being late to boot camp to party is another matter.) And the reason for restricting players now doesn’t really apply to him, at least not according to science.
Harden violated protocols, which the players union agreed to. That’s why they fined him. Especially in the midst of trying to get negotiated, Harden is also not an understanding figure.
But it’s good that Silver doesn’t bow to a crowd of people who want Harden to be punished harder just to make them feel better.
