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(Reuters) – Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James said he was happy fans were returning to some NBA games amid the COVID-19 pandemic despite a bizarre altercation with supporters that led to four of them to be ejected from Monday’s game at the Atlanta Hawks.
The NBA superstar got into a fight with a male spectator during the fourth quarter of his 107-99 win at State Farm Arena, which is among a handful of venues that allow fans this season, before a woman will start targeting the player.
The woman, who was escorted by security personnel along with three other people, posted a video full of expletives on social media explaining that the dispute started only after James exchanged words with her husband.
“At the end of the day, I am happy that the fans are back in the building. I miss that interaction … we as players need that interaction. I don’t feel it was justified for him to be fired, ”James told reporters.
“There was a swing between two grown men… He said his piece, I said my piece. Then someone else jumped in and said their piece.
“I didn’t think they should have been expelled. But maybe they would have had a couple of drinks, and they probably could have kept it. It wouldn’t have been about the game anymore … The referees did what they had to do ”.
While James downplayed the incident, Lakers coach Frank Vogel was dissatisfied with the fierce exchange after videos surfaced on social media showing the woman with her mask hanging from her chin during line.
“It certainly exposed something regarding having fans in the pandemic,” Vogel said. “Obviously, fans cannot be allowed to take off their masks and yell at our players with the virus right now.”
James has been a fierce critic of former President Donald Trump, speaking out against racial inequality after awakening from the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man killed last year after being seen lying face down in the street while a police officer White knelt on his neck for several minutes.
