LeBron James with his head down during the Anthem

LeBron James is catching backlash over his actions during the Anthem.

LeBron James has once again upset social media. This time, he never said a word.

On Christmas Day, the spotlight was on James in a way that angered plenty of basketball fans. A video emerged of James during the pregame national anthem. Instead of doing what everybody usually does, LeBron appeared to be practicing his golf swing.

As his career nears its later stages, LeBron James has taken up golf. That hobby has now been folded into criticism of his focus.

Social media couldn’t believe what they were watching.

“And per usual disrespecting our national anthem,” one fan said of LeBron James.

“Disrespecting the flag in the country that made him a millionaire,” a second fan wrote.

“Most unlikeable athlete in history,” a third person stated.

“During the national anthem? Wtf,” a fourth person added.

“Jordan would never!! Shows who truly is the GOAT,” one final person said of James.

In 2023, LeBron was ripped for not standing during the Anthem or removing his cap. He entered the arena while it was playing and promptly sat down. It was later explained that he did this to minimize the distraction it would cause by fans seeing him going to his seat.

LeBron James And The Lakers Get Dominated On Christmas

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images)
Christmas was not kind to the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers shot 51% but found themselves playing from behind all night. They fell at home to the Houston Rockets, 119-96.

L.A. lost to the Los Angeles Clippers 103-88 before this. Then the Phoenix Suns crushed the visiting Lakers 132-108 before that contest. On Christmas, L.A. trailed by 10 or more points for the entire second half.

Amen Thompson led the way for Houston with 26 points. Kevin Durant was right behind him with 25. Luka Doncic was Los Angeles’ leading scorer with 25 points. LeBron James had 18 points.

With Austin Reaves out, the Lakers simply did not have enough scoring power to keep up.

Luka Doncic ‘destroys’ the Mavs on his return. Gets standing ovation and shows love to Mark Cuban

Luka Doncic hits 45 points in his first game in Dallas since being traded to the Los Angeles.

It’s rare for a home crowd to cheer the visiting team, but Luka Doncic’s return to Dallas was no ordinary night.

Just days before February’s trade deadline, the Mavericks shocked the NBA by sending their 26-year-old superstar to the Lakers—a move that outraged fans and sparked backlash toward GM Nico Harrison.

On Wednesday, Doncic played his first game back in Dallas since the trade. The arena was filled with fans in both his old Mavs and new Lakers jerseys, many chanting “Fire Nico” in protest.

Despite the emotion in the air, Doncic delivered a dominant performance, scoring a game-high 45 points to lead the Lakers to a 112-97 win. It was a powerful return for one of the league’s brightest stars—and a night Dallas won’t soon forget

The Mavericks pay tribute to Luka Dončić

While the Mavericks’ decision to trade Luka Doncic remains heavily criticized, they handled his return to Dallas with undeniable grace. The organization made sure his first game back as a Laker was met with respect and appreciation.

Every seat in the arena was draped with a T-shirt reading “Hvala za vse,” which translates from Slovenian to “thank you for everything.” It was a thoughtful nod to Doncic’s heritage and impact on the franchise.

Before tip-off, during the starting lineup announcements, the Mavericks played a tribute video showcasing some of Doncic’s most iconic moments in a Dallas jersey. The emotional gesture clearly resonated—moving Doncic to tears in front of the crowd that once called him their own.

Luka Doncic ‘DESTROYS’ his old team

Luka delivered a dazzling performance against his former team, putting up 45 points on 16-of-28 shooting, including 7-of-10 from beyond the arc. He also added 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals in a game that showed exactly why he’s one of the best in the league.


From the opening tip, Doncic was locked in. By halftime, Doncic had racked up 31 points on 11-of-16 shooting in just 19 minutes—marking the 10th time in his career he’s scored 30 or more in a single half.

Though his scoring slowed in the second half, he continued to lead effectively, securing both a Lakers win and an unforgettable showing for the fans in Dallas.