The 36-year-old was apparently verbally abused by four fans, but so was James <!––> allegedly used not very fine words, according to one of the parties involved. The Hawks are now investigating the case, as are club boss Steve Koonin <!––> “The Athletic” said.
The referees stopped the game, then expelled the four people from the hall. One woman accused James of offending her husband. James rejected that after the game. “I don’t want to say that he freaked out, but he was a little over it,” said the team-mate of the German national player Dennis Schröder. “Then I said my part and we could have just carried on. But I think the referees heard it too and then had to react. ”
However, James found the expulsion of the fans unnecessary. “It looked bigger than it really was,” said the MVP of the past season. Like his colleagues, he is happy that fans are allowed to play again at the NBA games. «I miss this interaction. I need this interaction. We as players need this interaction. I don’t feel like getting kicked out was justified. ”
The Hawks are one of nine NBA teams currently admitting fans to their home games. In Atlanta they have to wear masks and have rapid tests done. The woman who accused James of the insults can be seen on a video without a mask walking towards James. “Courtside Karen was crazy, crazy,” James tweeted, adding seven smiling smileys to his tweet.
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