Video from The Los Angeles Lakers’ 124-116 win in overtime vs. the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday shows the moments leading up to when LeBron James grabbed an NBA official and had two people ejected from the game.
In the video below, starting at around the :25 second mark and lasting for several seconds, one of the two people who were tossed from the game appears to be waving their arms in James’ direction.
About 10-15 seconds later, James is seen grabbing an official by the arm, bringing the official to where the fans were seated, and pointing at the individuals in question while yelling: “It’s right f***ing here!”
The two people were quickly escorted out of the game.
WATCH:
During post-game remarks, James was asked what the fans did that made him “uncomfortable” during the game.
“I mean nothing is uncomfortable for me, but there’s a difference between cheering on your home faithful, booing opponents and things of that nature or not wanting your opponents to be successful, and there’s then moments where it goes outside the line with obscene gestures and words that shouldn’t be tolerated in our game from nobody,” James responded. “I would never say it to a fan and a fan should never say it to a player.”
James did not make any claims about what the two fans said or did, and there were only unsubstantiated rumors online speculating about what happened.
“There was a lot of negative reaction online to the incident, with many calling James ‘LeSnitch’ or ‘LeKaren’ for getting the fans ejected,” The Daily Wire reported. “Some said that the incident was what ultimately makes NBA legend Michael Jordan better than James because they said that Jordan would not have the fans ejected.”
The incident happened after James had just returned from serving a one-game suspension for striking a player in the face earlier this week.
James was ejected from his team’s 121-116 win against the Detroit Pistons on Sunday night following a play that resulted in another player having their eye cut open.
James was ejected after “striking Detroit big man Isaiah Stewart in the face while jostling for rebounding position,” ESPN reported. “The hit led to a stoppage in action while Stewart, with blood streaming down his face, had to be held back multiple times by Detroit personnel as he tried to confront James.”
“The incident occurred with 9:18 remaining in the third quarter and the Lakers trailing 79-67,” the report added. “Stewart was initially whistled for a loose ball foul on the play. Following an official review, James was assessed a flagrant foul 2 and ejected, Stewart was assessed two technical fouls and ejected.”
Related: LeBron On Being Suspended For Striking Player In Face: It’s ‘Bulls**t’