After 23 years in the league — and at 41 years old — LeBron James has experienced nearly every NBA scenario.
With less than a minute remaining in Thursday’s 125-107 Game 2 loss to the Thunder, James had an NSFW confrontation from the bench with an unidentified fan.
In the video captured and posted to social media, James can be heard saying: “Stay seated, alright That’s all I’m saying, stay seated alright?”
After a second or two where the fan appears to respond but the words can’t be understood, James upped the urgency in his tone.
It was another ugly point in what was an ugly game for the Lakers.
Despite James’ 23 points, six rebounds, three steals and two assists, the loss will be remembered for the officiating and what happened during and after the game.
The Lakers, including head coach JJ Redick and guard Austin Reaves, got into several heated arguments with the referees. It was all encapsulated when Reaves angrily approached official John Goble as soon as the final horn sounded.
Surrounded by teammates, security and other officials, Reaves gave Goble a piece of his mind after he said postgame that Gable “disrespected during a jump ball earlier in the game.
“At the end of day, we’re grown men and I didn’t feel like he needed to yell in my face like that. I told him that, I wasn’t disrespectful,” Reaves said. “I told him if I did that to him first I would have gotten a tech, I felt like the only reason I didn’t get a tech was because he knew he was in the wrong. I felt disrespected.”
In the end, the Lakers find themselves in an 0-2 hole and return to play Game 3 Saturday night in Los Angeles. Tipoff is set or 5:30 p.m. PT.
