LeBron James Questions Traveling for Preseason Game: ‘Explain’

LeBron James is letting fans know about his preseason travel grievances ahead of the 2024-2025 NBA season.

The Los Angeles Lakers star, 39, questioned why his team needed to travel halfway across the country for one preseason game against the Milwaukee Bucks in a post via X on Wednesday, October 9.

“Can someone please explain to me why we’re getting on a ✈️ and heading to Milwaukee for 1 pre-season game!?!?” he wrote, which prompted mixed responses from followers.

“Hey LeBron, it’s Greg. The reason for this is because if you were to drive there it would take over 29 hours so I’m guessing your coaches thought it would be more efficient to fly. Hope this helps,” wrote one social media user, while another echoed, “Because you are in the NBA and that is where your next game is.”

A separate X user added, “I’ll make some calls and address this issue for you GOAT.”

Though some preseason games are typically played at a team’s home arena, the Lakers will be on the road for their first six matchups for good reason: the Crypto.com Arena is currently undergoing scheduled renovations.

The championship winning team has already played two preseason games in Palm Desert, California, this past weekend, and will continue to compete on the road against the Golden State Warriors in Las Vegas, the Phoenix Suns in Arizona and the Warriors again at their home arena in San Francisco. Their first regular season game will be at the Crypto.com Arena against the Minnesota Timberwolves on October 22.

(The NHL’S L.A. Kings, who also play out of the Crypto.com Arena, will also be on the road for their preseason games before kicking off their home opener against the San Jose Sharks on October 24 amid renovations.)

Though Lakers first-year coach JJ Redick said the hectic schedule was “not an ideal” one for the team, point guard D’Angelo Russell offered an explanation as to why James may have a gripe with the team’s preseason traveling.

“I think for guys like [Anthony Davis] and Bron who played all summer in the Olympics, they’ll be load-managing those guys,” Russell, 28, said via ESPN. “But the rest of us are still hungry. We want to go out there and play every game and put the Laker uniform on and see how the crowd responds to whoever is out there on the floor. Get some energy from that.”