LeBron James isn't happy with the Lakers preseason schedule.
Los Angeles is one-third of the way through the preseason, with two games already behind it on the schedule. The Lakers lost their first two games but are aiming to rebound with a road trip to take on Giannis Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee.
All teams have to play at least some road games on the exhibition slate. No one has the luxury of staying home the entire time and welcoming teams and preseason matchups. That doesn't mean clubs are going all over the country, either.
Most organizations stay local, going against teams in their region. It's why the Lakers have two matchups against the nearby Warriors and two against the Suns.
However, there is some travel involved. James and Co. opened the preseason by welcoming the Timberwolves to L.A. from Minnesota, and now, Los Angeles is hitting the road to the Midwest for a date with the Bucks.
James may be excited for his first away game with his son, Bronny, on the team, but he isn't thrilled about flying all the way to Milwaukee.
Here's more on why he and the Lakers are upset about the preseason travel.
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Lakers travel controversy, explained
LeBron James took to social media on Wednesday to vent frustrations over the preseason schedule.
After hosting two exhibition contests, Los Angeles is set to hit the road for the first time this season, traveling to Milwaukee for a date with the Bucks. James couldn't understand why the team would be going all the way to the Midwest just for a single game and opted to pose the question to his followers on X, formerly Twitter.
Can someone please explain to me why we’re getting on a ✈️ and heading to Milwaukee for 1 pre-season game!?!?
— LeBron James (@KingJames) October 9, 2024
He's not the only member of the Los Angeles organization who is not happy about traveling halfway across the country. New head coach JJ Redick also took a shot at the preseason slate on Tuesday ahead of the Bucks game.
"Not an ideal preseason for us," Redick said when asked about the travel schedule.
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In past years, it's been rare for the Lakers to take on a team from the Eastern Conference. Normally, the California-based squad would play a couple of preseason games at home, a couple on the road against Western Conference opponents and one or two in unique locations around Southern California to bring the game to different audiences. For example, the first two games of the 2024 preseason were held in Palm Desert, Calif.
However, this year, the Lakers had to fulfill their promise of a home-and-home with the Bucks. In 2023, Antetokounmpo came to L.A. to face James, and now, the Lakers have to go to Milwaukee, according to ESPN.
As someone who handled this in NJ/Brooklyn, the pre-season schedule is done in-house and not thru the NBA.
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) October 9, 2024
The process is similar to how colleges arrange non-conference games.
It looks like the Milwaukee game was part of a home-home arrangement between both teams.
The Bucks… https://t.co/dhjZ9eHxnM
After the Bucks games, the Lakers will play three more exhibition contests — a home game against the Warriors before two road games against the Suns and Warriors again.
So in conclusion, the Lakers' preseason consists of three home games, two matchups against teams who are an hour and a flight away, and then one lengthy trip to the Midwest before having a full three days off before playing again.
That doesn't sound like that big of an ask for one year.
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Los Angeles Lakers preseason schedule 2024
| Date | Opponent | Time (ET) | TV channel |
| Friday, Oct. 4 | vs. Timberwolves | 10:30 p.m. | NBA TV |
| Sunday, Oct. 6 | vs. Suns | 9:30 p.m. | — |
| Thursday, Oct. 10 | at Bucks | 8 p.m. | NBA TV |
| Tuesday, Oct. 15 | vs. Warriors | 10 p.m. | NBA TV |
| Thursday, Oct. 17 | at Suns | 10 p.m. | TNT |
| Friday, Oct. 18 | at Warriors | 10:30 p.m. | ESPN2 |
