Some heckling fans who had words for LeBron James during the Los Angeles Lakers’ 107-99 win over the Atlanta Hawks were removed from State Farm Arena on Monday night.
Our Andy Nesbitt thinks those fans should be banned from ever attending an NBA game again after they pulled their masks down so close to James and the players on the floor.
But when it comes to ejecting them due to what they might have said? James himself said he doesn’t think they should have been tossed out.
“At the end of the day, I’m happy fans are back in the building,” he told reporters after the game. “I miss that interaction. I need that interaction. We as players need that interaction.”
“I don’t feel like that … warranted [for them] to be kicked out,” he continued. “There was a back and forth between two grown men, and we said our piece, he said his piece, I said my piece. And then someone else jumped into it and said their piece, but I didn’t think they should have been kicked out.”
As for them taking down their masks? He didn’t think they were close enough to affect the players but he hoped the officials who were are OK.
“Safety first,” he said.
"At the end of the day, I'm happy fans are back in the building. … I miss that interaction. … We as players need that interaction."
LeBron on his interaction with spectators in Atlanta on Monday: pic.twitter.com/spWDITZqkl
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 2, 2021
Of course, James had more to say on Twitter:
Courtside Karen was MAD MAD!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
— LeBron James (@KingJames) February 2, 2021
What was the deal on Hawks fans being allowed inside the arena? The Athletic has the details after speaking with CEO Steve Koonin:
All fans inside State Farm Arena are required to wear masks during the game, but Juliana Carlos is seen on video pulling hers down and yelling in the direction of James and other players on the court. Koonin said all of the fans who are sitting courtside are 30 feet from play, receive a rapid COVID-19 test and must test negative before being allowed inside the building. …
Atlanta is one of 10 teams that currently allows fans inside its arena, with 10 percent capacity being the limit inside State Farm Arena (roughly 1,700 fans). After Monday’s incident, Koonin said the team’s stance on allowing fans to sit courtside will not be impacted.
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