Lakers legend Michael Cooper ripped into LeBron James for eating on the bench during the team’s preseason game on Friday night against the Warriors.
James, who played in the first half of the game, was caught by cameras eating at the end of the bench in street clothes in the second half as his team battled the Warriors in a ramp up to the regular season.
“I didn’t like it,” Cooper said on The Showtime Podcast. “I didn’t like that. Again, he’s LeBron James, but still, you got to have respect for the game man, man. He’s sitting over there. I don’t mind the guy eating, but go eat in the locker room, and then when you come out and be part of the team, not just sit at the end of the bench eating.”
LeBron played 18 minutes of efficient basketball, immediately changed into street clothes, and brought his dinner to the bench 🤣🤣🤣pic.twitter.com/weYUkcy69p
— Lakers All Day Everyday (@LADEig) October 14, 2023
Jayne Kamin-Oncea/USA TODAY Sports
James finished with 12 points, five assists and two rebounds in 18 minutes of action, as the Lakers fell 129–125 to the Warriors.
Los Angeles tips off the regular season next Tuesday night against the defending champion Nuggets in Denver. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on TNT.
