NBA Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas found himself at the center of a social media storm after criticizing LeBron James’ pregame attire during the Los Angeles Lakers’ matchup against the Houston Rockets.
Thomas, speaking on the NBA Halftime Show, expressed his disapproval of James warming up shirtless while wearing a durag and sweatpants, calling it a “lack of professionalism.” His remarks quickly drew widespread backlash.
During the broadcast, Thomas did not hold back in sharing his thoughts.
“As a GM or coach, I would never let one of my players go out on the floor looking like this,” he said. “We are a professional NBA league. We ain’t Summer League, we ain’t at the YMCA. The professionalism in our NBA league has changed so much.”
Thomas went on to suggest that NBA Commissioner Adam Silver should consider fining players for such attire, adding,
“I like LeBron, I’m a fan of his. But to walk out on the floor before the game with no shirt on and shoot… where are we at? What are we doing?”
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
Thomas’ comments quickly went viral, with fans taking to social media to defend James and criticize Thomas for what many perceived as an outdated and overly harsh perspective
Old heads when they see Lebron breathe pic.twitter.com/ZZvf9S4pji
— 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗣𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗙𝗨𝗟 𝗟𝗔 𝗙𝗔𝗡 (@LaRespectful_) April 12, 2025
bron could fix world hunger and people would say “why didnt he cure cancer?”
— 💫 (@BrunsonRunsNYC) April 12, 2025
It’s 3-4 hrs before the game! Who gives af ?? He been doing that !
Nigga Got Bell’s palsy in one eye now he worried about seeing bron without on a shirt on 😒
— Real Sturdy 🧠👁✊🏽 (@KingSmoove009) April 12, 2025
My God these old heads just love to criticize everything about today’s game.
— Adrian Morris (@Adrian_R_Morris) April 12, 2025
Isiah, you’ve been bitter ever since they rejected you from being on the Dream Team. 😭😭😭😭
— Because I am (@miamac4sure) April 12, 2025
Hey, Isiah Thomas… pic.twitter.com/ah5iPQr7mV
— Slick (@AlexzanderSlick) April 12, 2025
I like Isiah Thomas, but he’s the same dude who sexual assaulted a woman when he was the coach of the knicks and was found guilty. But he’s crying about someone warming up shirtless and begging the owner to do something. pic.twitter.com/XwhILhrNdk
— Cam (@BigCam1990_) April 12, 2025
