NBA Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas has taken issue with LeBron James’ pregame look — specifically, the fact that the Lakers star warmed up shirtless ahead of a recent game against the Houston Rockets.
The moment, captured on the broadcast before tip-off at Crypto.com Arena, showed LeBron on the floor in sweats, no shirt, and earbuds in — a familiar sight to many NBA fans, but one that didn’t sit well with Thomas.
“Where We At? What We Doing?”
Speaking during halftime on NBA TV, Thomas didn’t hold back.
“I totally 100% object to this,” he said. “And if I was the GM or coach I would never let one of my players walk out on the floor looking like this. I mean we’re a professional NBA league. We ain’t summer league. We ain’t at the YMCA.”
Thomas continued, expressing disappointment over what he sees as a decline in league standards.
“I just think the professionalism in our NBA league has diminished so much. Look, I like LeBron, I’m a fan of his, but to walk out on the floor before the game with no shirt on. I mean come on man. Where we at? What we doing? Now, Adam Silver, if you wanna fine somebody, put a fine on that.”
LeBron Responds: “It’s Useless at This Point”
LeBron didn’t address Thomas directly, but he posted a message on X that seemed to speak to the situation.
“Man I was going to say something but it’s useless at this point in my career!“
Fans React to Thomas’ Criticism
Thomas’ comments quickly spread across social media.
Some backed his old-school take on professionalism, while others saw it as overblown — pointing out that pregame warmups have long included unique routines and expressions of player individuality.
