NBA legend Isiah Thomas did not hold back in his criticism of LeBron James’ shirtless warm-up before the Los Angeles Lakers’ game against the Houston Rockets. On NBA TV, Thomas expressed his disapproval, stating that such actions are beneath the professionalism expected in the league.
“I just totally, 100% object to this,” Thomas remarked. “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 are a professional NBA league – we ain’t summer league, we ain’t… you know, at the YMCA.”
Thomas, known for his tough, no-nonsense mentality as a player, went further in his critique. He highlighted how he believes the NBA has lost some of its professionalism in recent years, particularly regarding player appearances. “Coaches gotta go back to suits,” former NBA player Steven Smith interjected, adding fuel to the discussion.
In response, Thomas reinforced his stance: “I just think college and pro… I just think the professionalism in the NBA league has diminished so much.”
He made it clear that despite his admiration for LeBron’s on-court abilities, he couldn’t overlook such a casual approach to game preparation. “To walk out on the floor before a game with no shirt on and shoot? I mean, come on, man. This where we at? What we doing? Where we at now?” Thomas asked rhetorically, implying that such actions are undermining the league’s prestige.
The Hall of Famer also added a sharp comment aimed at NBA commissioner Adam Silver, suggesting that if fines were to be handed out, they should target this type of behavior: “If you want to, Adam Silver, if you want to fine somebody – fine that!”
The Lakers’ victory over the Rockets, where James played a key role with 14 points, followed by a comfortable rest for the final quarter, marked an impressive 140-109 result.
With the Lakers locking up the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference playoffs, it was a night that saw Luka Doncic star with 39 points.
The Lakers’ performance, shooting 60.9% from the field and 51.4% from three-point range, left a strong impression as the team gears up for the postseason.
Despite a shorthanded Rockets roster, with key players like Alperen Sengun and Fred VanVleet absent, the game wasn’t without its highlights. Cam Whitmore, for Houston, posted a career-high 34 points, showing promise for the team as they look ahead to the playoffs.
