Lakers star LeBron James complaining about flying to Milwaukee for a preseason game

LeBron James is not happy with the Los Angeles Lakers’ preseason schedule.

While five of his six games are manageable, it was this week’s quick road trip from Southern California to Milwaukee that seemed to unleash the 39-year-old. James took to social media Wednesday morning ahead of the team’s nearly four-hour flight from Los Angeles to Milwaukee for a preseason game with the Bucks on Thursday.

“Can someone explain to me why we got on a (plane) and headed to Milwaukee for a preseason game!?!?” he wrote, before adding that he was “surprised” at himself for even getting on the plane.

Naturally, the Bucks couldn’t help but respond.

First of all, it’s not like James and the Lakers fly commercially here. They are taking a team charter flight that will go directly to Milwaukee, making the roughly 1,750-mile trip as easy as possible.

And second, it’s not like the Lakers are the only team traveling for preseason games. The Bucks just played a preseason game in Detroit, for example, and will head to Dallas to play the Mavericks next week. The Boston Celtics, who won the NBA title last season, flew to Abu Dhabi for a pair of preseason games against the Denver Nuggets earlier this month. It is a trip of approximately 6,700 miles one way. The Celtics will also fly to Toronto for a game against the Raptors next week.

The NBA also does not control teams’ preseason schedules. The Lakers built their own and there is no minimum number of games required to play. Teams can play up to six. They will travel to Milwaukee this preseason as part of a home preseason series after the Bucks traveled to Los Angeles for a game last October.

But in James’ defense, all six of the Lakers’ preseason games will be held outside Crypto.com Arena, which is currently undergoing renovations. That also temporarily displaced the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings, who will open their regular season with seven straight road games.

The Lakers opened their preseason with a pair of games in Palm Desert, which is about two hours east of downtown Los Angeles. After returning from their game at Fiserv Forum, the Lakers will close out the preseason with a game against the Golden State Warriors in Las Vegas, a game against the Phoenix Suns and then a final game against the Warriors in San Francisco.

“It’s not an ideal offseason for us,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said Tuesday of their travel schedule. .

So even if you don’t like it, the Lakers’ trip to Milwaukee isn’t out of the ordinary at all.

James and the Lakers will officially open their season on October 22 at Crypto.com Arena. It will be James’ 22nd season in the league, which ties an all-time record, and his first season playing with his son in the draft earlier this summer. They will become one once they take the court together this season.