After sparking controversy over remarks about possibly playing NBA games without fans, Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James clarified his remarks and will leave the ultimate decision to officials monitoring the situation.
LeBron James said when initially asked about possibility of playing without fans at games, he wasn’t aware there were talks behind scenes about that possibility. He says while he wants to continue playing in front of fans that if it gets to that he will trust the decision makers.
— Ohm Youngmisuk (@NotoriousOHM) March 10, 2020
The NBA has been discussing possibly having players play games without fans in attendance due to the coronavirus, which has already led to more than two dozen deaths in the United States.
James made his original comments after being asked last week about the prospect of playing before no fans.
“I ain’t playing,” James said. “I ain’t got the fans in the crowd. That’s who I play for. I play for my teammates. I play for the fans. That’s what it’s all about. If I show up to an arena and there are no fans in there, I ain’t playing. They can do what they want to do.”
Across the world, the illness has claimed the lives of thousands of people. That’s led some international leagues to either cancel contests or to play them with no fans to limit the possible transmission of the virus.
At the collegiate level within the United States, some schools have followed that same approach, though the NBA’s plan is seen as a last resort option.
One approach to deal with possible virus transmission that’s been adopted by the NBA, as well as other leagues, has been to ban media from team locker rooms and clubhouses.
The trajectory of the problem remains unknown, but James and the Lakers will look to focus their attention to Tuesday night’s home game against the Brooklyn Nets.
James had been ruled as questionable for the contest, but indicated during the team’s shootaround on Tuesday morning that he will play.
