NBA legend Isiah Thomas criticized LeBron James for warming up shirtless before the Los Angeles Lakers' game against the Houston Rockets on April 11. Speaking during the NBA TV broadcast, Thomas said the move was unprofessional and reflected a broader decline in league standards.

“I just totally, 100 percent object to this,” said Thomas, a Hall of Famer and two-time NBA champion with the Detroit Pistons. He said no coach or GM should allow a player to step on the court shirtless, calling it unprofessional. “We ain’t Summer League. We ain’t at the YMCA,” he added, expressing frustration over the image being presented on the national stage.

Broadcast footage showed James warming up at Crypto.com Arena wearing grey sweatpants but no shirt. While Thomas said he respects James as a player, he felt this behavior crossed a line. “Where are we at? What are we doing? Adam Silver, if you want to fine somebody, fine that,” he said.

James, currently in his 22nd NBA season, was preparing for his 12th game back after missing seven games due to a groin injury. The remarks add to a growing list of generational critiques, as older NBA veterans express concern over shifting standards in the modern league.

It’s worth noting that Thomas himself was previously at the center of controversy. In 2007, while serving as head coach of the Knicks, Thomas and Madison Square Garden were found liable in a sexual harassment lawsuit brought by former team executive Anucha Browne Sanders. Thomas denied the allegations, and MSG settled the case for $11.6 million.