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Aug. 24 (UPI) -- LeBron James is already sick of the jersey-burning trend in the NBA, especially when it happened to new teammate Isaiah Thomas. Thomas was part of the blockbuster trade on Tuesday, which sent Kyrie Irving to the Boston Celtics. The newest Cleveland Cavaliers point guard had his old jersey featured in many videos from upset fans after the move.
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The videos featured the "fans" lighting his old No. 4 Celtics jersey on fire. The same thing happened to James' jerseys after he departed Cleveland in 2010, when Dwyane Wade left the Miami Heat last offseason and when Gordon Hayward left the Utah Jazz this summer. Oklahoma City Thunder fans also torched Kevin Durant's jersey when he decided to join the Golden State Warriors.
And James is flat-out tired of it.
"The burning of the jersey thing is getting ridiculous now! The man was traded," James tweeted. "What do u not understand? & played in a game after [Thomas'] sister's tragic death. Gordon Hayward paid he's dues as well and decided to do what's best for him and family. Put in the work, got better, became an All-Star, etc!!"
"If these guys weren't good, u guys would be the first to say "get them up out of here". Man beat it! When "we" decide to do what best for us it's "cowardly" "traitor", etc but when it's on the other side it's "business" huh!?!? Ooh ok."
"Man do what u feel is best for your profession, love, family, happiness and continue to #StriveForGreatness #Salute," James tweeted.
The burning of the jersey thing is getting ridiculous now! The man was traded. What do u not understand? & played in a game after .....
— LeBron James (@KingJames) August 24, 2017
sister tragic death. Gordon Hayward paid he's dues as well and decided to do what's best for him and family. Put in the work, got better....
— LeBron James (@KingJames) August 24, 2017Advertisement
On Tuesday, James responded to an alternative video to jersey burning. In that footage, a fan put a piece of paper saying: "Thank U so much" on a Kyrie Irving Cavaliers jersey.
decide to do what best for us it's "cowardly" "traitor", etc but when it's on the other side it's "business" huh!?!? Ooh ok. Man do.....
— LeBron James (@KingJames) August 24, 2017
Thomas, 28, is one of the best stories in NBA Draft history. The 60th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft began his career with the Sacramento Kings before being traded to the Phoenix Suns in 2014. He was traded to the Celtics in 2015. He averaged 24.7 points and six assists per game during his stay with the Celtics, becoming an All-Star twice.
