NBA scoring leader James Harden said he did not intend to make a political statement by wearing a ‘Thin Blue Line’ mask Thursday, claiming he was unaware of what the mask represented.

The Thin Blue Line flag is a black-and-white US flag with a blue stripe replacing one white stripe. Thin Blue Line USA, the group that sells the flags, says the thin blue line represents officers in the line of duty and the black represents fallen officers.

Photos of Harden wearing the mask that appeared on the Rockets’ and NBA’s official social media accounts prompted fierce online debate when they were posted on Thursday night with the caption “Mask Up”.

“Honestly, I wasn’t trying to make a political statement,” Harden said before the Rockets’ practice Friday. “I honestly wore it just because it covered my whole face and my beard. It’s pretty simple.”