LeBron James Opines His Most Egregious Travel in Latest Mind The Game Episode

LeBron James had back-to-back plays where he went from Shaqtin a Fool to Michael Jordan reincarnated in the flesh.

LeBron James Opines His Most Egregious Travel in Latest Mind The Game Episode

LeBron James after winning his 2016 NBA championship (Image via Cleveland.com)

One of the biggest bones that purists have to pick with the current era of basketball involves the travel rules. Players were not allowed to make funky moves that utilized non-conventional footwork – like the Eurostep, for instance – for much of NBA history. Yet, players like LeBron James can stiffarm defenders, use gather steps and Eurosteps, and even get a softer whistle than players who played in more physical eras.

In addition to the laxer travel rules, the league has also loosened oversight on dribbling rules. It is now legal to put the hand in positions other than directly above the ball’s center of gravity. This has changed the way modern NBA players throw off defenders and make moves to get to the basket.

LeBron James is one of the most criticized players for this kind of move. King James has always been regarded as one of the greatest layup artists of all time. Yet, he often does the truck move, or uses gather steps. Referees have allowed him to get away with all kinds of violations over the years simply because he’s a superstar.

James was asked about the most egregious travel he’s been allowed over the years by Steve Nash. The 40-year-old didn’t take long to fix his answer, citing an incident from the 2016-17 NBA season:

You know what, the basketball gods were not on my side. The one that comes to my mind right now, it was my second stint with Cleveland playing in Washington and we were down one. I got the ball in transition at about half court, and I was driving the lane. It’s late in the game, I was driving in the lane and I traveled like a motherf***er. And I got all the way into the lane and missed the layup.

However, contrary to what LeBron James claimed, the basketball gods were indeed on his side rather than against. After getting away with a blatant travel, James still had the opportunity to tie the game, and he did exactly that with an improbable shot off a stupendous outlet pass from Kevin Love. James described it as only he can in the same segment:

I had a wide open layup and I missed it. It’s the same game when I end up tying it hitting the 3-pointer off the glass. After they made two free throws, I hit the (turnaround jumper).

LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo are officiated differently

LeBron James has always had to be officiated differently from players at the same positions he’s played. He is among the two or three most athletic players in NBA history and was at some points both the strongest and the fastest swingman in the league. Defenders were allowed to be more physical with him than with other players, but he was also allowed to initiate contact and get free throws often.

LeBron James resumes workouts after knee injury
LeBron James (Image via Open Source/X)

Unlike Shaquille O’Neal, who was a victim of the Hack-a-Shaq strategy due to his poor free-throw shooting, James was a more controversially officiated player. Even Giannis Antetokounmpo has had a very controversial whistle. The Greek Freak often uses the same physicality as LeBron James, who uses his off arm to create separation, contact or just to hold off his defender while making drives inside the paint.

Many NBA fans rightly point out that past legends like Julius Erving, Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon could have been even more terrifying had they been allowed the kind of freedom – both from officials and from coaches – that modern players have been given.

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