The Lakers clinched the third seed in the NBA with a comfortable 140-109 win over the second-seeded Houston Rockets, but the most eye-catching part of the game was the pregame comments made by Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas. Thomas had a legendary career in the NBA, spending all 13 of his seasons with the Detroit Pistons. The Hall of Famer led the “Bad Boys” to back-to-back championships in 1989 and 1990, earning Finals MVP honors in ’90. Throughout his career, he earned 12 All-Star nods and was named to the NBA’s 50th and 75th Anniversary Teams.
Thomas averaged 19.2 points and 9.3 assists per game, demonstrating a knack for delivering in the clutch. But his legacy isn’t spotless; his involvement in the “Jordan Rules,” a bruising defensive tactic designed to rattle Michael Jordan, remains a polarizing issue decades later. These days, as an NBATV analyst, Thomas keeps his voice loud, and he recently turned it on LeBron James over a pregame habit that’s raised eyebrows.
Thomas Calls Out LeBron’s Style
The spark came before the Lakers’ win over the Houston Rockets. Thomas, who watched LeBron warm up shirtless at the Crypto.com Arena, didn’t hold back on NBATV. “I’m completely against it – 100 percent,” he vented. “If I was the GM or the coach, none of my players would be on the court like that. This is the NBA, not some summer league pickup game or a YMCA run.” He even called on commissioner Adam Silver to fine James, lamenting what he sees as a decline in the league’s professional standards. For Thomas, it’s about decorum-an old-school stance from a guy who thrived in a rougher era. The thing is, LeBron going shirtless before games isn’t new. He’s been doing it for years, often wrapping up his workouts before the stands fill, so it’s a non-issue for most.
LeBron, however, hasn’t let it go completely. After the Lakersclinched a playoff berth with the win, he jumped on X and posted a message that felt like a quiet jab: “Shoutout to the team for clinching the playoffs! No point in feeding the chattering classes at the gate. #LakeShow.” No names dropped, no drama stirred-just a smooth sidestep that says, “I heard you, but I’m bigger than that.” It’s vintage LeBron, brushing off noise with the finesse he’s honed through years of scrutiny. Earlier this season, he even took a swing at ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith over remarks about his son Bronny, proving he’s not afraid to push back when it matters.
LeBron responded in a big way, congratulating his rookie coach on the 50 wins, because as he says, at this point in his career and with what he has accomplished in the NBA, no one, literally no one, can tell James how to act. LeBron is impressive, he’s 40 years old, he’s in his 22nd season and in only four of those 22 seasons has he not made the playoffs, including his first two in Cleveland when he was the face of the franchise at 19.
A Frenzied Finish in the West
With the regular season coming to a close tomorrow with the final 15 games, the stakes couldn’t be higher, especially in the Western Conference. The East has its top seven seeds locked up, but the West is a free-for-all from three through eight. The Lakers, who are sitting pretty at the third seed with 50 wins, their best mark since their title year in 2020, are set. Tomorrow’s showdown between the Warriors and Clippers at the Intuit Dome could flip the standings. For LeBron, now 40 and still averaging 25.5 points, 7.3 rebounds and 8.2 assists a night, the playoffs promise chaos and opportunity. The West is a gauntlet, and he’s the Lakers’ pivot point in their hunt for another championship.
This shirtless spat may fade quickly, but it’s another chapter in LeBron’s story of living under a microscope. Thomas, with his championship pedigree, wants the game to retain its luster. LeBron? He’s always marched to his own drummer, bending norms while racking up wins.
