NBA Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas Bashes LeBron James For Warming Up Shirtless

Ahead of Friday night's Rockets-Lakers game in Los Angeles with some potential playoff-seeding implications in play, LeBron James was shown warming up shirtless during an NBA TV broadcast.

The initial intro of the clip—which was done to remind fans that the game in Los Angeles would serve as the second half of NBA TV's doubleheader—didn't exactly come across as the most earth-shattering moment to witness.

Especially when you consider the segment began in such a lighthearted nature, joking about how James would be playing shirtless, which was accompanied by laughter from the panel.

But, well, apparently it was a pretty big deal because Detroit Pistons legend and NBA Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas took great exception to James' choice of attire—or lack thereof.

"I totally 100% object to this ... the professionalism in our NBA league has diminished so much."

Isiah Thomas tees off on LeBron James for warming up shirtless pregame in L.A. 😬 pic.twitter.com/j7YPgkcbrc

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) April 12, 2025

"I just totally 100% object to this," Thomas declared with some strong emphasis.

"And if I was the GM or the coach, I would never let one of my players walk out on the floor looking like this," the 63-year-old Thomas continued. "I mean we are a professional NBA league. We ain't summer league. We ain't at the YMCA ... I just think the professionalism in our NBA league has diminished so much."

And Thomas was hardly done there.

"Look, I like LeBron, I'm a fan of his, so forth and so on," Thomas said. "But to walk out on the floor, before a game, with no shirt on and shoot. I mean, come on, man. Where we at? What we doing? Where we at? Now, Adam Silver if you want to fine somebody, fine that! Put a fine on that."

It might be somewhat important to note that in the very brief footage shown of James getting in some early warm-up shots for the late 10:30 p.m. EDT tip-off against Houston, there isn't a person to be seen in the stands and some of the chairs in "celebrity row" had not even been folded down yet.

Regardless, the relatively awkward segment was quickly wrapped up and thrown directly back to the Bucks-Pistons game, which was already underway in the second half.

The clip has since gone viral, with fans piling on Thomas for what were generally perceived as surprising comments, particularly since the two-time NBA champion called for LeBron James to be fined by league commissioner Adam Silver for the shirtless stunt.

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