Lakers Great Bashes LeBron for Eating on the Bench

Los Angeles Lakers legend Michael Cooper expressed his disapproval of LeBron James' bench-side snacking during the team's preseason match against the Golden State Warriors last Friday.

During the first half of the game, James, who had been an active player, was captured by cameras indulging in a meal at the far end of the bench in his street clothes. This took place in the second half while his team faced off against the Warriors in preparation for the upcoming regular season.


Michael Cooper's Comments on the Incident


Cooper voiced his criticism of James' actions on the most recent instalment of the Showtime Podcast, suggesting that James should have chosen to consume his meal in the privacy of the locker room instead.


What Should we Make of This?

During the Lakers' preseason showdown with the Warriors, the Lakers suffered a 129-125 defeat. LeBron James concluded the game with a stat line of 12 points, 5 assists, and 2 rebounds, all accomplished in 18 minutes of play. As part of James's health plan, Darvin Ham has explained that LeBron is "Just kind of easing into it", hence the limited play we've seen from him in preseason.

However, eating court-side while his teammates were striving for victory may have pushed the boundaries of this notion. Demonstrating respect for one's fellow players and setting an example as the team's leader is crucial. Next time, LeBron should finish his food in the locker room and return to support his team, rather than looking like he's forced to be there.

Given the criticism LeBron received for his actions, it's likely that this was a one-time incident, and we shouldn't expect to see a repeat of it during their final preseason match against the Phoenix Suns this Thursday.

View all the highlights from the Lakers vs. Warriors game in the video provided below:


Credits:
The Score