Lakers News: Fan Ejected For Rushing LeBron James During Game

Where was the Crypto security?

During a break in an eventual happy occasion for your Los Angeles Lakers, a 112-105 upset win over the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder, resting LA superstar power forward LeBron James was rushed by an overeager fan, who hugged him.

The fan was eventually removed from both a clearly weirded-out James on the floor and Crypto.com Arena overall for his conduct.

ClutchPoints captured the interaction, tracking the discomfort via both its Instagram and Twitter/X accounts.

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Here's footage of a perturbed James watching the fan be removed and walking back to LA's bench.

A fan at tonight’s Lakers-Thunder game was kicked out after running up to LeBron James on the bench and putting his arms around him.

The fan was kicked out, and James was seen visibly upset. pic.twitter.com/FDQvjY2okY

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) January 16, 2024

Apparently this needs to be said: unless you're literally Shannon Sharpe, it's never okay to approach a player during an active game and engage them on the sidelines. This is not only disruptive and inappropriate, it could also potentially be dangerous to players, depending on a fan's intentions. Crypto.com Arena does have pretty solid security at the gate, and seems to be fairly effective at screening for weapons. Even still, as can be evinced here, it took a second for staffers to cut off the fan.

Here's hoping fans can settle down and leave the players to the game. 

At 20-21, Los Angeles needs to focus up on the home stretch of its season. It can't afford to be distracted by overeager fans trying to be part of the action.