A Texas police officer had a complaint about LeBron James when he learned he was speaking with J.R. Smith: He blamed James for the Los Angeles Lakers landing Luka Doncic.
The exchange appears in bodycam footage obtained by the California Post and publicized Tuesday, Nov. 3. According to the Post’s account of the footage, Royse City officers stopped Smith on Sept. 28 while investigating a possible outstanding warrant.
Basketball came up as officers checked his status. Smith discussed his NBA career and championships with Cleveland and Los Angeles, mentioning both Kyrie Irving and James.
One officer referred to James as “He who shall not be named.”
“Not a fan?” Smith asked.
The officer’s response brought Doncic into the conversation.
“He stole Luka from us. That was all him,” the officer said.
Another officer shared his displeasure with the trade. The first added, “I’m still mad.”
Bodycam footage shows a police officer complaining about LeBron James and the Luka Dončić trade before arresting JR Smith
(Via @nypost ) pic.twitter.com/QRXBKf0WW8
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) November 3, 2026
The stop happened in September, so Tuesday’s development is the newly publicized footage, rather than a new arrest. The officer’s accusation also differs from the accounts James and ESPN’s Brian Windhorst gave about how the trade unfolded.
What LeBron James said about the Luka Doncic trade
In his comments to reporters in February 2025, James said he initially did not believe the news. He was having dinner with family when he heard about the deal involving Doncic and Anthony Davis.
Even a lengthy FaceTime conversation with Davis did not immediately make it feel real. James said seeing Doncic and footage of Davis at Dallas’ shootaround helped the news sink in.
He also said he had no role in the decision to trade Davis. Windhorst subsequently addressed the same question during an ESPN Cleveland appearance covered by Lakers Daily in July 2025.
His account distinguished James’ feelings about the move from whether he helped make it happen.
“He wasn’t against it, you know? I think he was shocked that they traded Anthony Davis,” Windhorst said.
Windhorst said James did not participate in that decision. He interpreted the acquisition of Doncic as a shift in the Lakers’ direction, moving away from having James at the center of the franchise’s plans.
That reporting is relevant to the officer’s claim: Being on the team that acquired Doncic does not establish that James orchestrated the trade. The bodycam exchange supplies an officer’s opinion, rather than new reporting about the negotiations.
The reason for Smith’s arrest was separate from the basketball discussion. Officers took him into custody after confirming a warrant tied to an alleged domestic violence incident earlier in September.
Smith’s attorney, Justin A. Moore, has emphasized his client’s presumption of innocence and said the case would be addressed in court.
