Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas on Friday criticized LeBron James for his attire (or lack thereof) while warming up for the Los Angeles Lakers’ game against the Houston Rockets.
Thomas was part of the halftime show panel for NBA TV’s broadcast of Friday’s Milwaukee Bucks-Detroit Pistons game. As the panel previewed the Lakers-Rockets game, a shirtless James was shown taking warm-up shots a couple of hours before tip-off at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, Calif.
The scene did not sit well with Thomas. The Detroit Pistons icon laid into James, branding him unprofessional for his pregame stunt.
“I just totally, 100% object to this,” said Thomas. “If I was the GM or coach, I would never let one of my players walk out on the floor looking like this. We are a professional NBA league. We ain’t summer league. We ain’t at the YMCA. Professionalism in our NBA league has diminished so much.
“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 a game with no shirt on, come on, man. Where we at?”
"I totally 100% object to this … the professionalism in our NBA league has diminished so much."
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) April 12, 2025
Isiah Thomas tees off on LeBron James for warming up shirtless pregame in L.A. 😬 pic.twitter.com/j7YPgkcbrc
Thomas even called for NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to fine James for the act.
Very few players would openly call out James in the manner Thomas did. But Zeke has proven time and again that he’s not afraid to be at odds with the league’s marquee players, past or present. Thomas’ never-ending beef with Michael Jordan is proof of that.
