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2 days ago
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LeBron shares the most egregious travelling violation he has ever committed: "The basketball gods was not on my side"
LeBron shares the most egregious travelling violation he has ever committed: "The basketball gods was not on my side" originally appeared on Basketball Network. Being the NBA megastar he is, LeBron James has always been a magnet for criticism. One of the most common criticisms thrown at him is his tendency to commit traveling violations on the court. In fact, there have been countless discussions about whether Bron gets away with traveling more often than he should. Advertisement However, in a recent "Mind the Game" episode with Steve Nash, LeBron was candid enough to admit to committing one of his most egregious traveling violations in league history. It happened on February 6, 2017, when he was still playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers. In a tight game against the Washington Wizards, James saw an open lane to the rim and took off for an uncontested layup. However, in his eagerness to get there faster, he inadvertently took a few extra steps before taking off. The "basketball gods" saw what LeBron did With the spotlight on King James at all times, it has been fairly easy for hoop fans to spot when he gets away with traveling. Some have even dubbed it the "LeTravel" move, poking fun at his ability to seemingly glide across the court without ever dribbling the ball. But in a rare moment of justice, the basketball gods intervened to ensure that LeBron was held accountable for his travels. James blew the wide-open layup as he drove toward the rim, with no player between him and the basket. "You know what, the basketball gods were not on my side," he said with a smile. "We were down one. I got the ball in transition, about half court, and I was driving the lane — it's late in the game. I was driving the lane, and I got into the lane, and I traveled like a MFer." Advertisement "I got all the way to the lane and missed the layup. Missed the layup," LeBron admitted. "They did not call the travel. I blew the layup." Fortunately, King James redeemed himself a few moments later as he banked in an improbable triple before the final buzzer to tie the game at 120-all and send the contest to overtime, where they eventually won, 140-135. "Basketball gods stayed with me a little bit," he commented while sharing a laugh with Nash. "Well, I mean, they came back around. Because I'm true to the game. I missed it. If I would have made it, then… you know…" Related: "We only needed one more guy" - Patrick Beverley says the Clippers lost SGA because Kawhi thought he needed more help LeBron is human For all the superhuman feats Bron executes on the floor, his admission about committing traveling violations shows that even the best players in the league are still human and, ultimately, fallible. As a matter of fact, James — who's known for his keen memory — recalled another terrible travel call that went uncalled this past season. Advertisement "I had one this past season, too, in Orlando," he remembered. "That was so bad. Switched my pivot feet. Missed the shot too. No call. Just straight up — pivoting on one, changed to the other." "Terrible. Drove down the lane. I was at the elbow. Pivot foot — oh, I didn't like that one. Switched it. Drove. Shot a floater. Hit the side of the backboard," he concluded. LeBron's critics often call him out for the preferential whistle he usually gets from the officials. But such is life for basketball royalty. Some of the greatest players in history have benefited from favorable calls at times, and James — traveling violations be damned — is no exception. Related: 'How many times does he travel per game?' - Antoine Carr sided with his Finals tormentor in the Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James debate This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 25, 2025, where it first appeared.
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2 days ago
- Sport
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"These players are being sought after more and more" - LeBron James on the increasing demand for positionless players
"These players are being sought after more and more" - LeBron James on the increasing demand for positionless players originally appeared on Basketball Network. In basketball, there has always been a clear distinction between positions. Point guards lead the team and set up the offense, shooting guards shoot the ball, small forwards do a little bit of everything, power forwards and centers rebound, set screens and play with their backs to the basket. Advertisement But that's not the case in today's NBA. With positions less standardized than ever, centers bring the ball up the court, point guards rebound and set screens, and the forwards and wings are mainly on the floor to shoot, pass and defend multiple positions. But what prompted this change? 3-and-D players started it all Over the years, the NBA has started catering to guys who can do multiple things on the floor regardless of their size. And according to Steve Nash, it all started with the 3-and-D guys. "They can guard multiple positions, they can stretch the floor, if you watch these two teams in the finals, they're asking their quote on quote 3-and-D guys now to be able to play blender," said Nash, a two-time NBA MVP, on the latest episode of the Mind the Game. Advertisement "These players are being sought after more, more and more as years are going," LeBron James added. Throughout history, the NBA has had guys who have redefined positions, from Magic Johnson and Larry Bird to LeBron, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic. But in the league today, even role players are required to have that level of versatility. After all, that's what wins championships. "Being able to put five guys on the floor that can do multiple things, if not everything," James said while referencing the Boston Celtics' 2024 title run. "You saw obviously what Boston was able to do with those guys, those guys are all positionless, being able to catch, shoot, drive, pass, that's it." Boston, in particular, had Jrue Holiday — they traded him to the Portland Trail Blazers a few days ago — a prime example of a positionless player. Advertisement Holiday, who played point guard most of his career, was setting screens and rolling to the basket more than he was playing on the ball. Joe Mazzulla even played him as a power forward from time to time, allowing lineup versatility that was impossible for anyone in the Association to match. Related: "We only needed one more guy" - Patrick Beverley says the Clippers lost SGA because Kawhi thought he needed more help Positionless basketball Still, the rise of Holiday-like players didn't happen overnight. The Golden State Warriors popularized the small ball concept by starting Draymond Green, a 6'6" forward, at the center position, trying to maximize his speed and ability to switch everything defensively. Now, every team is looking to play a similar style. Advertisement With young players entering the league with more well-rounded skill sets than ever, the trend shows no signs of slowing down. High school and college coaches are training athletes to be multi-dimensional from day one. The result? A new generation of players: tall, agile, intelligent, ready to redefine what it means to play in the league. Whether it's Jokic running the offense or Holiday guarding the post-up, the modern game has evolved to the point where positionless role players are as essential as star players. They aren't just a luxury anymore; they are becoming the standard. Related: LeBron shares the most egregious travelling violation he has ever committed: "The basketball gods was not on my side" This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 25, 2025, where it first appeared.
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2 days ago
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LeBron James Names His Most Egregious Travel of All Time Without Hesitation
LeBron James Names His Most Egregious Travel of All Time Without Hesitation originally appeared on Athlon Sports. As the 2024-25 NBA season wrapped with the Oklahoma City Thunder edging out the Indiana Pacers in seven games, the offseason officially begins. While attention now shifts to the NBA Draft and its incoming class of young talent, one future Hall of Famer is already gearing up for another season — LeBron James. Advertisement The Lakers legend recently sat down with Steve Nash, now his co-host on the 'Mind The Game' podcast, to talk basketball. The pair touched on rising star Cooper Flagg and the future of the game, but also zeroed in on a more controversial topic: traveling violations. LeBron admitted that he's benefited from leniency on travel calls throughout his career. Without hesitation, he shared one play that stood out to him. 'I get away with travel sometimes, too. I can't sit here and say I don't.' Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) Mandatory Credit: Matt Blewett-Imagn Images 'I don't want to be nitpicky about our players, but that's one thing we can clean up a little bit.' he continued. Advertisement When Nash asked him about the most egregious travel he ever committed without getting called, LeBron didn't hold back. 'The basketball Gods were not on my side. I was in my second stint with Cleveland, playing in Washington. We were down one, late in the game. I got the ball around half court in transition, drove the lane, and I traveled like a [expletive]. I made it to the rim—and missed the layup.' Nash laughed and pointed out, 'They did not call the travel.' LeBron replied, louder this time, 'They did not call the travel. I blew the layup.' Now entering his 22nd season, LeBron will turn 41 in December. Drafted straight out of high school, he was the No. 1 overall pick in 2003. The 6-foot-9 forward is a four-time NBA champion, earning Finals MVP each time. He's also a four-time regular-season MVP and has been named to the NBA All-Star team 21 times. Advertisement This past season, LeBron made history by sharing the court with his son Bronny James in a Lakers uniform. Los Angeles, however, was bounced in the first round of the playoffs by the Minnesota Timberwolves in five games. Related: Luka Doncic Reportedly Makes Big Change in Physical Appearance Related: Alex Caruso's Outfit at Thunder's NBA Championship Parade Is Going Viral This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 25, 2025, where it first appeared.
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4 days ago
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LeBron James Issues Strong Advice to Cooper Flagg Before NBA Draft
LeBron James Issues Strong Advice to Cooper Flagg Before NBA Draft originally appeared on Athlon Sports. As the 2025 NBA Draft kicks off Wednesday, all eyes are on the Dallas Mavericks and the likely No. 1 overall pick. Former Duke Blue Devils standout Cooper Flagg is widely expected to be the top selection, thanks to his elite skill set, defensive instincts and basketball IQ. Advertisement There isn't much debate about Flagg's future; almost everyone agrees he's headed for NBA stardom and long-term success at the highest level. Earlier this week, NBA legend LeBron James offered some words of advice on his Mind the Game podcast, praising the 18-year-old forward and expressing high expectations. '@Cooper_Flagg has all the tools to succeed in the next chapter of his career.' "You know you're the No. 1 pick. You know the entire basketball world is looking at you. That's going to come with a lot of expectations." co-host Steve Nash said. "Yeah, absolutely, well, one, you are super excited. [expletive], it's what we all dreamed of as kids." James responded. Advertisement James went on to talk about what it was like to be that top pick. "You are in awe, man. I can't believe that this dream is finally coming true. And at the same time, there is a little anxiety and pressure. As the No. 1 pick, there are automatic expectations." he said. LeBron James, Los Angeles LakersChuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports Flagg, a native of Newport, Maine, won't turn 19 until December. He reclassified to enter college a year early and wrapped up an impressive freshman season at Duke. Before college, he starred at Montverde Academy in Florida, a powerhouse prep program. The 2025 National College Player of the Year brought in a haul of awards during his one year at Duke. He won the Lute Olson Award, Julius Erving Award and Wayman Tisdale Award. He was a consensus first-team All-American and earned both ACC Player of the Year and ACC Rookie of the Year honors. Advertisement By doing so, Flagg joined an elite group of Blue Devils — Zion Williamson, Marvin Bagley III and Jahlil Okafor, as the only players in ACC history to win both awards in the same season. He was also named the 2022 USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year. Flagg averaged 19.2 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. He made headlines off the court as well, becoming the first men's college basketball player to sign an endorsement deal with Gatorade. With Dallas holding the No. 1 pick, Flagg is poised to become the Mavericks' new franchise cornerstone. If his college resume and LeBron's endorsement are any indication, the NBA's next star might be just getting started. Related: LeBron James Makes Unexpected Statement Regarding Warriors Related: Lakers React to LeBron James Announcement on Friday This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 24, 2025, where it first appeared.
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4 days ago
- Sport
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LeBron James Shares Strong Message on Cooper Flagg Landing With Mavericks
LeBron James Shares Strong Message on Cooper Flagg Landing With Mavericks originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The anticipation is high for the 2025 NBA draft on Wednesday, with the spotlight mainly on Duke Blue Devils star and projected No. 1 overall pick, Cooper Flagg. Advertisement Flagg is all but locked in to become a Dallas Maverick—a stunning development considering the team held just a 1.8% chance to win the lottery back in May. Now, he's expected to join a veteran core that includes Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, and key contributors like Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively. Ahead of draft night, LeBron James and co-host Steve Nash released the latest episode of their Mind the Game podcast, where James shared strong thoughts on Flagg's likely landing in Dallas—a much different situation than James himself faced when he was drafted by his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003. "[Cooper Flagg] has the benefit, unlike myself, he gets to join a team that's established with Hall of Fame guys," James said Tuesday, contrasting it with his own experience being drafted by a rebuilding Cavaliers team. James added on the podcast, in reference to Flagg joining forces with Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving, and Klay Thompson. Advertisement "They can give him the whole blueprint, while he continues to learn what his blueprint will be," James said. "And I think that's going to be an incredible thing for him — to have that type of presence, that type of leadership, that type of just basketball IQ and knowledge around him every single day from those pieces. So I think he's going to be amazing." Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23).Candice Ward-Imagn Images Prior to Cooper Flagg beginning his career at Duke, he was already making waves on the AAU circuit—most notably when a viral clip captured LeBron James giving him advice after a game. Now, at just 18 years old, Flagg will soon have the opportunity to compete against James on an NBA floor. James, who turns 41 in December, is set to make history as he enters his 23rd season in the league. Advertisement Related: Cooper Flagg's Dad Breaks Silence About Mavericks Before No. 1 Pick Announcement This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 24, 2025, where it first appeared.
