Add this to the ever-growing list of NBA players from the older generation criticizing modern stars.
Pistons legend Isiah Thomas lambasted LeBron James for warming up shirtless prior to the Lakers’ clash against the Rockets on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
“I just totally, 100 percent object to this,” Thomas said on the NBA TV broadcast. “If I was the GM, the coach, I would never let one of my players walk out on the floor looking like this. I mean we are [the] professional NBA league. We ain’t Summer League. We ain’t at the YMCA.”
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Footage on the broadcast showed James warming up on the court wearing grey sweatpants without a shirt.
Thomas, who spent his entire 13-year career with the Pistons, whom he led to two NBA championships amid a Hall of Fame career, believes it’s indicative of a league-wide lack of standards.
“I just think the professionalism in our NBA league has diminished so much,” Thomas said. “Look, I like LeBron, I’m a fan of his, so forth and so on. But to walk out on the floor before a game with no shirt on and shoot, I mean c’mon man. Where are we at? What are we doing? Where are we at? Adam Silver, if you want to fine somebody, fine that. Put a fine on that.”
Eighteen years ago Thomas, along with Madison Square Garden, were in the spotlight over allegations in the workplace when the two were found liable of sexual harassment against former Knicks employee Anucha Browne Sanders while Thomas was the team’s head coach.
Thomas denied the allegations.
The lawsuit was settled and cost MSG $11.6 million.
James, playing in his 22nd season in the league, was getting ready for his 12th game back since missing seven games with a groin injury.
