LeBron James Criticized for Golf Swing Motion During National Anthem at Lakers-Kings Game
LeBron James was seen swinging his hips during the national anthem prior to the Lakers–Kings game on December 28, 2025, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Critics described the motion as James practicing his golf swing rather than standing respectfully with hand over heart or behind his back.
The Lakers won the game 125-101, with James contributing 24 points and 5 assists. However, the moment during the anthem attracted negative attention; sports pundit Craig Carton publicly criticized James on his podcast, calling the behavior disrespectful to the national anthem and military members.
Fox News Digital reached out to James’s representatives for comment, but no statement from James was reported at the time. This incident adds to the ongoing discussion of national anthem controversies in professional sports, recalling prior events including Colin Kaepernick’s 2016 protest and NBA players kneeling during the bubble games.
