James Harden insists he only punched an ardent Kobe Bryant fan in self-defense and not because the now-suing man shouted to him "Kobe owns you're a--."
In documents filed in L.A. County Superior Court this week seeking to have the case thrown out, Harden further claims that the man deserved to be hit because he was acting aggressively towards him.
According to TMZ, the self-professed Lakers fan claims the Houston Rockets guard punched him in the face last November after they encountered one another outside an L.A. nightclub. The website adds in now citing "the doctrine of self-defense," Harden maintains if he punched the man it was because he felt he posed a threat to him and the people he was with that night.
TMZ adds Harden is also seeking to have the man pay his legal costs for defending himself in the case. Harden is represented by famed Texas attorney Rusty Hardin, the same lawyer who has previously represented such Texas sports stars as Roger Clemens, Warren Moon, Steve Francis and Rudy Tomjanovich.
A five-year veteran in his first year playing alongside All-Star center Dwight Howard, Harden is off to arguably his best NBA season, averaging 24 points, five rebounds and five assists for the 22-13 Rockets.
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