NBA
NBA Legend Accuses LeBron James Of Being Unprofessional
Published12 Apr 2025
There has been plenty of discussion lately about the media that surrounds the NBA and the negative light that they often cover the sport in. You can now add Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas to the list of pundits, as he questioned LeBron James and his professionalism during a broadcast on NBA TV.
Isiah Thomas Questions Levels Of Professionalism In The NBA
The Los Angeles Lakers were in Houston on Friday, and LeBron James was getting shots up in preparation for the game against the Rockets. NBA TV cameras showed him in the act, as he was going through his warmups while shirtless and wearing a durag. Thomas spoke up as the clip was playing, and the 63-year-old NBA lifer had some criticisms for James and the league as a whole.
Thomas started by saying that if he were a GM or coach, he would never let one of his players walk out on the floor “looking like this.”
“We are a professional NBA league….I think the professionalism has diminished so much. I like LeBron James…But to go out on the floor before a game with no shirt on, I mean, come on man. Where we at?”
He would go on to say that if the league is going to hand down a fine to a player, they should “fine that”, in regard to James’ shirtless warmup.
There was no comment from LeBron James. The Lakers would handily defeat the Rockets in the subsequent game, winning by a 31 point margin. They will enter the 2025 postseason as the 3rd seed in the Western Conference.
Isiah Thomas goes off on LeBron James for warming up shirtless and in a durag
“the professionalism in our NBA league has diminished so much.”
(h/t @awfulannouncing )
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) April 12, 2025
As for Thomas, his ability to question another man’s professionalism is questionable. While acting as the president of basketball operations for the New York Knicks in 2006, he was accused of sexual assault by an employee. Thomas maintained that he was innocent, even with the case settling for $11.5 million.
There was no action taken by the NBA to punish Thomas for the incident, and he instead took over as head coach of the team five months later.
