Rockets' James Harden responds to critics after wearing ‘Thin Blue Line’ mask: ‘I thought it looked cool’

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Houston Rockets’ star James Harden responded to criticism Friday after he was pictured wearing a “Thin Blue Line” mask in his arrival at the NBA bubble, saying he was not making a political statement.

The NBA scoring leader said he simply chose the mask out of convenience and because he thought “it looked cool.

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“It was just something that covered my whole beard. I thought it looked cool. That was it,” Harden told ESPN.

He continued to say that he is in the process of figuring out a way to best support the Black lives Matter movement while in the bubble, which could include having a social justice message written on his jersey

Harden didn’t travel with the rest of his team to Orlando last week following speculation that he had contracted COVID-19, along with teammate Russell Westbrook, who confirmed himself on social media early this week that he tested positive.

But on Thursday the Rockets shared a picture confirming that Harden was back.

Instead of hyping fans up about his arrival, the post was met with heavy criticism after it showed Harden wearing a mask depicting a popular pro-police symbol.

“For the love of GOD tell me James Harden isn’t wearing a mask called ‘the blue patriot,’” one user said on Twitter.

The NBA also shared the post.

Singer Trey Songz was among the critics who shared the picture on his social media with the caption “This certified clown s---. I’ll say it for everybody who scared to. FOH”

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Rapper Young Thug, a friend of Harden’s, also wrote on Twitter: “he don’t have internet so he obviously don’t know what’s right or wrong if he posted something that’s against US.”

Harden has not been known to be outspoken about political matters but on Thursday he told reporters that he believed that the protests that followed the death of George Floyd represented a “powerful” message.

“The way the city just like rallied, it was amazing. I think the world saw it,” he said. “The march and everything that we’re standing for is very powerful.”

Harden is on track to win his third consecutive scoring title. He’s averaging 34.4 points, well ahead of second-place Bradley Beal of the Washington Wizards. Beal, who isn’t participating in the restart because of an injury, finished the season averaging 30.5 points.

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He would become the seventh player in NBA history to win at least three consecutive scoring crowns, joining George Mikan, Neil Johnston, Wilt Chamberlain, George Gervin, Michael Jordan and Kevin Durant.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.