LA Lakers superstar LeBron James and Anthony Davis were in stitches after a fan was forced out of the arena. The spectator apparently refused to give the ball back and taunted a referee during a dead ball in their preseason game against the Phoenix Suns in Palm Springs, California, on Sunday.
The commotion took place with 1:26 left in the third quarter of the game, when the fan decided to get a piece of the action by refusing to give the ball back for play to resume. It eventually led security to pick him up from his seat and force him out of the arena.
While the event unfolded, LeBron James and Davis could be seen laughing and joining the crowd in egging security to remove the unruly fan from his seat and escort him outside.
Check out the what happened below:
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I don’t think I’ve ever seen this during a preseason game. A fan taunted the ref and refused to give him the ball back, so he was thrown out of the game. Even LeBron got up and gestured for him to be removed. #Lakeshow pic.twitter.com/N0uczF4hpr
— Lauren Jones (@LoJoMedia) October 7, 2024
Even players from the Suns, led by Kevin Durant, jokingly joined the call for the fan to be removed:
Kevin Durant to the fan: “get the f*** out” pic.twitter.com/xsgk0ZPtLI
— BricksCenter (@BricksCenter) October 7, 2024
The game against Phoenix was the second preseason game that the Lakers lost, 118-114. LeBron James and Davis played limited minutes, with the former posting 19 points, five rebounds, four assists and two blocks in 16 minutes of play while the latter logged in 18 minutes and had 17 points, eight rebounds and three assists.
The Lakers will have their next preseason game on Thursday against the Milwaukee Bucks.
LeBron James and Bronny James share the court for the first time in the NBA
The LA Lakers preseason game on Sunday saw LeBron James and son Bronny make history as the first father-and-son duo to share the court in NBA history.
The historic moment took place at the beginning of the second quarter against the Phoenix Suns when Bronny was fielded in by coach JJ Redick and joined his NBA superstar father. Their time together on court, however, lasted only four minutes and nine seconds before the younger James was subbed out with 7:51 to go in the frame.
LeBron James was impressive in his preseason debut this season, finishing with 19 points, five rebounds, four assists and two blocks in 16 minutes of play. Bronny, for his part, failed to score in 13 minutes on the court.
Lakers coach Reddick was excited and happy to see LeBron James and Bronny share the court and make history, saying (via ESPN) ahead of their game:
“It’s surreal. It’ll be fun when they’re on the court together. I’m excited about it. I’m very honored that I get to be part of history.”