Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James stirred up controversy among basketball fans after he took to social media to express frustration over having to travel to Milwaukee for a preseason game against the Bucks.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), James voiced his annoyance, writing, “Can someone please explain to me why we’re getting on a [plane] and heading to Milwaukee for one preseason game!?!?” His complaint quickly caught the attention of fans, some of whom were unsympathetic, pointing out that travel is a standard part of life for NBA players, even in the preseason.
One user humorously replied, “Hey LeBron, it’s Greg. The reason for this is because if you were to drive there, it would take 29 hours, so I’m guessing your coaches thought it would be more efficient to fly. Hope this helps.”
Another user commented, “Surprised you’re flying at all?” to which James replied, “I’m surprised myself.” This back-and-forth only added fuel to the fire, as some fans felt the four-time NBA champion’s comments were out of touch given the luxuries typically afforded to professional athletes.
Despite the backlash, others pointed out that preseason travel, though tedious, is a normal part of the NBA schedule, designed to prepare teams for the grind of the regular season.
According to Yahoo! Sports, the game at Fiserv Forum on October 10 was just one stop on the Lakers’ busy preseason schedule.
Following the matchup against the Bucks, the Lakers will wrap up their preseason with three more games: against the Golden State Warriors at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on October 15, followed by an away game against the Phoenix Suns on October 17, and a final preseason clash against the Warriors at the Chase Center in San Francisco on October 19.
The Lakers will then officially begin their regular season on October 22 with a home opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Crypto.com Arena.
As the Lakers gear up for another season, excitement is building around the possibility of seeing James share the court with his son, Bronny James.
The father-son duo is expected to make history as the first to actively play on the same NBA team. They shared the court for the first time during the Lakers’ preseason game against the Suns on October 6, a moment that LeBron described as “pretty cool for the both of us, and especially for our family.”
While James’ comments about preseason travel might have sparked some criticism, they haven’t dampened the anticipation for what could be a historic season for the Lakers.
Fans are eager to see LeBron continue to dominate in his 21st season while Bronny begins his own journey in the NBA, potentially marking a new chapter in basketball history.
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