Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images
James Harden detractors would say that the very rich Rockets star is in the Bahamas committing acts of virtue with a man whose job it is to market his clients for the sole purpose of enhancing his public image.
While I typically always side for the “Doin’ It For The ‘Gram” crowd, I’m feeling kind today so I will give Mr. Harden the full benefit of the doubt.
Harden is currently in the Bahamas this week for training and took some time out of his trip to coast around in ATV’s with Adidas sports marketing manager Troy Payne and hand out wads of cash to the struggling Bahamian citizens (as of 2017, 14.8 percent of the country’s population lives below the poverty line and unemployment is on the rise).
The former NBA MVP was particularly kind to one family he saw fishing for food, handing them $10,000.
James Harden gifted a group of family and friends $10K after he saw them fishing for food.
Incredible 🙏
(via tpizzzle/IG) pic.twitter.com/5BM7iR2cdy
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) August 10, 2019
Note: the Bahamian dollar is pegged to the U.S. dollar on a one-to-one basis which means that any business will accept either U.S. or Bahamian currency.
James Harden and his friends were riding around in the Bahamas and were giving cash to people and children, including $10K to this mother and her family. (Via https://t.co/v7U1evs6l8) pic.twitter.com/XmFSB0a1xk
— Alykhan Bijani (@Rockets_Insider) August 10, 2019
Again, I will NOT bring up the fact that this cash is a drop in the bucket for a man who could become a billionaire by age 40. I will not bring up his insane contract or him signing an endorsement deal with Adidas in 2015 worth $200 million over 13 years, only surpassed by LeBron’s lifetime deal with Nike and Steph Curry’s deal with Under Armour.
Today, I will say people helping people is powerful stuff. Good on you James Harden.