NBA legend Isiah Thomas did not hold back on April 11, 2025. During an NBA TV broadcast, he criticized LeBron James for warming up shirtless before the Los Angeles Lakers’ game against the Houston Rockets. “I 100 percent object to this,” Thomas stated.
Isiah Thomas deemed the action unprofessional, especially coming from a Hall of Famer and two-time champion.
Isaiah Thomas went OFF on LeBron for warming up shirtless 😭😭 pic.twitter.com/XFjUOwBrBC
— BricksCenter (@BricksCenter) April 12, 2025“We ain’t Summer League. We ain’t at the YMCA,” Thomas added. He argued no coach or GM should allow it. Footage showed James at Crypto.com Arena in grey sweatpants, bare-chested. For Thomas, this crossed a line. “Adam Silver, if you want to fine somebody, fine that,” he urged.
“I would never let one of my players walk out on the floor looking like this… We ain’t at the YMCA… The professionalism in our NBA league has diminished so much.”
Isiah Thomas on LeBron James warming up shirtless 😬
(via @NBATV)pic.twitter.com/AIT0iKDg3V
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) April 12, 2025In his 22nd NBA season, James returned in the 12th game after recovering from a groin injury. Although Thomas acknowledges James’ incredible talent, he also points to a larger concern: he believes that the league’s standards are declining. For example, many veteran NBA players criticize the more relaxed attitudes of today’s players.
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Thomas has been involved in controversy during his career. In 2007, while serving as the Knicks coach, he faced a sexual harassment lawsuit. A court found both him and Madison Square Garden liable, resulting in a settlement of $11.6 million. While Thomas denied the allegations, the case remains a part of his record.
