The Los Angeles Lakers have been one of the NBA’s best teams this season, and they recently clinched the No. 3 seed in the Western conference with a win over the Houston Rockets.

Isiah Thomas Is Back at Garden in Surprising Role: President of Liberty - The New York Times

After adding Luka Doncic to the roster, many believe that the Lakers have what it takes to make a run at the NBA title this season. The playoffs are only one week away, but one NBA legend is taking issue with a Lakers star’s conduct.

Before the Lakers played the Rockets on Friday night, cameras showed LeBron James warming up. Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas took issue with the fact that James happened to be shirtless as he was warming up, and called him out on NBA TV.

“I just totally, 100 percent object to this,” Thomas said on the pregame broadcast.

“If I was the GM, the coach, I would never let one of my players walk out on the floor looking like this. I mean we are professional, NBA league. We ain’t Summer League. We ain’t at the YMCA.”

Thomas took James’ apparent mistake as an opportunity to reflect on a lack of “professionalism” in the NBA.

“What are we doing? Where are we at? Adam Silver, if you want to fine somebody, fine that. Put a fine on that.”

Some fans noted that Thomas played for one of the most notorious teams of all time – the “Bad Boys” Detroit Pistons of the 1980s and early 90s. The Pistons won two championships during that era, but they were also known for physical and borderline dirty play.

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) warms up before the game against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center.

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) warms up before the game against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center.

Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

Many Pistons players, Thomas included, also refused to shake hands with the Chicago Bulls after being swept in the 1991 Eastern Conference Finals.

James and the Lakers are now locked in as the No. 3 seed in this year’s Western Conference playoffs. They’ll have home-court advantage in the first round against the No. 6 seed, and could have it later in the playoffs if they advance and face a lower seed.

The Lakers are looking for their first championship since 2020 in the Orlando bubble. James won his fourth championship that year, and Doncic is looking for his first.

LeBron James career stats: Where Lakers star ranks in all-time points, assists, 3-pointers and more categories | Sporting News United Kingdom