BOSTON -- James Harden is known for making fashion statements with his attire, but the look he’ll be donning against the Celtics Thursday has a much deeper, more personal meaning.
Harden will be wearing his signature sneakers, with a message designed by kick-ass artist/shoe designer @kickstradomis, with the words across the front of the shoes, “FREE MEEK,” in support of good friend Meek Mill, who is currently in jail for a probation violation from a 2008 incident.
On Wednesday, Harden visited Mill in jail and posted an Instagram message afterwards which read, “Got a chance to see my bro @meekmill today. His spirit is high and hopefully we can get him out by February. Told me to tell y’all when he get out he got some [fire] for y’all.”
Harden and Mill are close, as Mill has performed at Harden's birthday parties; the two also participated in a charity basketball game earlier this summer, according to ESPN.
Harden is one of a number of high-profile athletes and celebrities to champion the cause of freeing Mill, a list that includes rival rappers Jay-Z and Drake in addition to NBA stars like LeBron James and Joel Embiid.
In 2008, then-18 year-old Meek Mill was arrested on gun and drug charges. He has had a number of probation violations since then, and was cited by Judge Genece E. Brinkley last month for failing a drug test along with having unapproved travel.
The judge’s decision to jail Mill went against recommendations made by both the district attorney and Mill’s probation officer, according to Mill’s attorney Joe Tacopina.
Tacopina alleged that Judge Brinkley took “an inappropriate personal interest in (Mill) that goes above and beyond her role as a judge.”
According to Tacopina, Judge Brinkley wanted Mill to re-record a Boyz II Men song and give a “shout-out” to her, in addition to wanting him to leave his record label, Roc Nation, and sign with one of her friends.