LeBron James is sad with the Los Angeles Lakers’ preseason schedule.
Though 5 of their six video games had been manageable, it was this week’s fast journey from Southern California to Milwaukee that appeared to discourage the 39-year-old. James took to social media Wednesday morning forward of the staff’s practically four-hour flight from Los Angeles to Milwaukee for a preseason sport with the Bucks on Thursday.
“Can somebody clarify to me why we’re happening this journey [plane] and heading to Milwaukee for a preseason sport!?!?” he wrote, earlier than including that he was “stunned” at himself for even getting on the airplane.
Can somebody clarify to me why we’re leaving in βοΈ and heading to Milwaukee for 1 preseason sport!?!?
-LeBron James (@KingJames) October 9, 2024
I’m stunned myself! π€¦πΎββοΈ
-LeBron James (@KingJames) October 9, 2024
Naturally, the Bucks could not assist however reply.
But it surely was Greg who had the very best rebuttal.
Initially, it is not like James and the Lakers are flying industrial right here. They take a chartered staff flight that can fly on to Milwaukee, making the roughly 1,750-mile journey as straightforward as attainable.
And second, it is not just like the Lakers are the one staff touring for preseason video games. The Bucks simply performed a preseason sport in Detroit, for instance, and so they’ll journey to Dallas for a sport in opposition to the Mavericks subsequent week. The Boston Celtics, who gained the NBA title final season, traveled to Abu Dhabi for 2 preseason video games in opposition to the Denver Nuggets earlier this month. That is a one-way journey of about 6,700 miles. The Celtics may also fly to Toronto for a sport in opposition to the Raptors subsequent week.
The NBA additionally doesn’t management groups’ preseason schedules. The Lakers have constructed their very own and there’s no minimal variety of video games required. Groups are allowed to play with as much as six gamers. They journey to Milwaukee this preseason as a part of a home-and-home preseason sequence after the Bucks traveled to Los Angeles for a sport final October.
However in James’ protection, the Lakers’ six preseason video games are being performed away from Crypto.com Enviornment, which is presently being renovated. It additionally briefly changed the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings, who will start their common season with seven straight highway video games.
The Lakers opened their preseason with two video games in Palm Desert, situated about two hours east of downtown Los Angeles. Coming back from their match at Fiserv Discussion board, the Lakers will shut the pre-season with a match in opposition to the Golden State Warriors in Las Vegas, a match in opposition to the Phoenix Suns then a last match in opposition to the Warriors in San Francisco.
βItβs not a great preseason for us,β Lakers coach JJ Redick stated Tuesday of their journey schedule. by way of ESPN.
Even when he does not prefer it, the Lakers’ journey to Milwaukee is by no means out of the atypical.
James and the Lakers will formally open their season on October 22 at Crypto.com Enviornment. This will probably be James’ twenty second season within the league, which is an all-time document, and his first season enjoying together with his son, Bronny, chosen by the Lakers within the second spherical of the undertaking earlier this summer time. They may change into the first father-son duo in historical past to take part in an official NBA sport as soon as they’re on the courtroom collectively this season.