LeBron James gets away with audacious travel in Lakers win

LeBron James was off on another planet in this platinum-level Shaqtin’ a Fool fail. Everyone in basketball saw it except the referees.

LeBron James could be headed for the immortal territory of league MVP and Shaqtin a Fool MVP in the same year.

The Los Angeles superstar on Thursday delivered a strong, early contender for the biggest bonehead moment of the season as the Lakers travelled to play the Jazz in Utah.

In one staggeringly bizarre moment as James brought the ball up the court with almost zero defensive pressure, the four-time MVP winner picked up the dribble in his left hand before taking another two steps up the court before he put the ball back on the floor and took another two steps.

No basket.

James, cool as cucumber, acted as if nothing had happened, despite a Jazz defender wildly waving his arms in the air for the referees to pull him up on both a double dribble and a travel.

No whistle would come — and James just kept on walking.

The bizarre moment left NBA commentators in stitches, while some were fuming at another instance of James getting away with murder because of his reputation as the most powerful player in the game.

Bron went for a walk 😂 pic.twitter.com/aLOlXpmrnu

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 5, 2019

LeBron could kill a man on the court and they’d call a foul on the dead guy pic.twitter.com/IdIi5IUkHu

— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) December 5, 2019

James finished with 20 points and 12 assists as the Lakers walked away with the dominant 121-96 victory, but was asked about the moment following the game.

“It was the worst thing ever. Probably one of the worst things I’ve ever ever done in my career,” James said.

“I didn’t even realise I did it until halftime, to be honest. One of my coaches showed me. I didn’t even realise.

“I think at the same time, I was watching the underneath play and KCP and Donovan got into it. KCP started to run and Donovan bumped into him and he fell to the ground.

“I think I was ready to pass the ball and my brain kind of just ... I just had a malfunction. I felt bad for the refs on that one because they probably get a write-up on that one. That was pretty bad.”

It isn’t James’ first entrance into Shaquille O’Neal’s annual tomfoolery award on NBA broadcaster TNT.

And on Thursday’s evidence it won’t be his last.

James’ travel is one of his best acts of stupidity on a basketball court — but it isn’t even in the same ball park as Russell Westbrook’s iconic five-steps meltdown.

The now-Houston star’s moment of simply forgetting to bounce the ball remains one of the funniest things to ever happen on a basketball court.