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James Harden Briefly Detained By French Police

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 15: James Harden #13 of the Brooklyn Nets stands at the line to shoot a foul shot against the Sacramento Kings during the first half of an NBA basketball game at Golden 1 Center on February 15, 2021 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

On Thursday, Brooklyn Nets star James Harden was detained by French police in Paris but was not arrested. Harden was with rapper Lil Baby and a bodyguard but the All-Star was not in the vehicle with them.

According to the local newspaper, Le Parisien, police pulled over a vehicle Thursday afternoon when they smelled marijuana. In the vehicle was rapper Lil Baby, whose real name is Dominique Jones, and two others. The Nets’ guard was not in the car but was apparently nearby talking to friends and walked over to intervene. Harden was briefly detained and frisked before being released.

Police found over 20 grams of marijuana in the car. Lil Baby was arrested because marijuana is illegal in France. The prosecutor’s office said one other person was detained, but that individual was not named. The rapper was released on Friday morning with a drug fine.

Harden, Kanye West and Lil Baby were in Paris for Fashion Week. The Nets’ guard was originally supposed to be in Las Vegas this week training for the upcoming Olympics as a member of Team USA but dropped out due to injury.

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Harden suffered a Grade 2 hamstring strain in the second round of the NBA playoffs as the Nets lost to the Milwaukee Bucks. The All-Star guard played through the injury in the last three games of the series but struggled to produce. The Nets ultimately lost the series in seven games with Harden hobbled and Kyrie Irving out due to a sprained ankle.