James Harden Wins "Smacking" Lawsuit Against Photographer: Report

Harden was sued after an incident with David Flores in 2016.

BYAlexander Cole
Link Copied to Clipboard!
2.1K Views
Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Basketball players can be some of the biggest celebrities in the world so it's no surprise that photographers and the paparazzi are constantly trying to get videos and photos of them. On May 13th, 2016, that's exactly what happened to James Harden as he was approached by David Flores outside of a lounge in Hollywood. Flores claims that Harden actually "angrily smacked" his hand which led to a broken finger. At first, Flores told authorities that he had a video of the whole thing but admitted it was doctored. Despite not having the original video, he decided to sue Harden anyway, citing negligence, assault, and battery. 

James Harden Wins "Smacking" Lawsuit Against Photographer: Report
Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images

According to TMZ, Harden refused to settle with Flores and the whole lawsuit ended up going to trial by jury. Just recently, it was revealed that the jury sided with Harden, saying he did not intend to injure Flores. This means that the lawsuit has finally come to an end and Harden won't have to give up any of his hard earned cash. Flores will now have to walk away with nothing, which isn't exactly surprising considering the circumstances.

While Harden could easily afford to pay the man, it's good to see Harden stick by his principles and see the whole thing through until the very end.


  • Link Copied to Clipboard!
About The Author
Alexander Cole is the current Managing Editor of HotNewHipHop. He started at HotNewHipHop back in 2018 where he began as a Sports and Sneakers writer. During this time, he has shown an expertise in Air Jordans, Yeezys, and all things that have to do with Nike. His favorite kicks are the Air Jordan 1 High OG, the Air Jordan 4, the Air Jordan 6, and the Adidas Yeezy Boost 350 V2 in the "Beluga 2.0" colorway. Although his collection might not be the biggest, he is always looking to add new styles to it. When it comes to sports, Alex has a particular interest in the NBA and the NFL. His favorite teams are anywhere LeBron goes, and the Kansas City Chiefs. As a Montrealer, the Montreal Canadiens hold a special place in his heart, even if they haven't won the Stanley Cup in his lifetime. Alex also works for the Concordia Stingers, where he provides play-by-play and color commentary for the football, hockey, and basketball teams His favorite hip-hop artists are Kendrick Lamar, Playboi Carti, Travis Scott, and Lil Uzi Vert.