NBA superstar LeBron James had to be held back from clashing with a heckling fan by security after the Los Angeles Lakers were defeated by the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday night.
The Lakers fell to a crushing 133-115 loss at the hands of their city rivals, despite James’ 46-point performance. The 38-year-old even set a new personal record in three-pointers in a single game as he connected on nine shots from deep.
The Lakers looked as though they were set to pull off a spectacular comeback before things fell apart due to a number of disappointing turnovers. James - whose 46 points came in just 32 impressive minutes - was seen sitting on the Lakers bench while staring into the abyss in the fourth quarter as his team dropped another winnable game.
After the frustrating loss was confirmed by the final buzzer, James was heading back to the locker room when he dealt with a heckler sitting courtside. The fan yells: “Hey Bron! Hey you better get this s*** together ***** with that receding ass hairline.
“Look he's mad! Look at him! You stink!”
James was in no mood to receive such vitriol, particularly after his epic performance. He immediately turned to the man and had to be held back by security guards, who prevented the situation from escalating.
As the video cuts out, the man lowers the camera while James can be seen talking with a security guard momentarily. The NBA is yet to confirm whether the fan will face repercussions for the incident, although it is expected.
The league have previously ensured any disruptive fans received punishment from the home team after players were heckled excessively to the point of a back-and-forth exchange. Therefore, the Lakers could either suspend or permanently ban the fan from attending future contests.
While his night ended on a sour note, James continues to prove that he is an unprecedented force of nature in his 20th season as he plays at an All-Star level. His dysfunctional Lakers team received a new recruit in Rui Hachimura - and James will hope the Japanese star can help them move into playoff contention.
James and the 22-26 Lakers are next in action against the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night. The Spurs currently sit 14th in the west with a record of 14-33.
