Fan heckles LeBron, disrupts youth basketball game in Las Vegas
Fan heckles LeBron, disrupts youth basketball action in Las Vegas Valley (Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Updated July 26, 2018 - 9:56 am

Los Angeles Lakers power forward LeBron James high fives his daughter Zhuri before the start of his son LeBron James Jr.'s Made Hoops Summer Showcase game on Wednesday, July 25, 2018, at Liberty High School, in Las Vegas. Benjamin Hager Las Vegas Review-Journal @benjaminhphoto

Fans voice their frustration after a game featuring Lebron James' son was canceled due to security concerns at the Made Hoops Summer Showcase on Wednesday, July 25, 2018, at Liberty High School, in Las Vegas. Benjamin Hager Las Vegas Review-Journal @benjaminhphoto

Fans voice their frustration after a game featuring Lebron James' son was canceled due to security concerns at the Made Hoops Summer Showcase on Wednesday, July 25, 2018, at Liberty High School, in Las Vegas. Benjamin Hager Las Vegas Review-Journal @benjaminhphoto

Fans voice their frustration after a game featuring Lebron James' son was canceled due to security concerns at the Made Hoops Summer Showcase on Wednesday, July 25, 2018, at Liberty High School, in Las Vegas. Benjamin Hager Las Vegas Review-Journal @benjaminhphoto

Fans voice their frustration after a game featuring Lebron James' son was canceled due to security concerns at the Made Hoops Summer Showcase on Wednesday, July 25, 2018, at Liberty High School, in Las Vegas. Benjamin Hager Las Vegas Review-Journal @benjaminhphoto

Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook cheers for Team Why Not during the Made Hoops Summer Showcase on Wednesday, July 25, 2018, at Liberty High School, in Las Vegas. Benjamin Hager Las Vegas Review-Journal @benjaminhphoto

Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook cheers for Team Why Not during the Made Hoops Summer Showcase on Wednesday, July 25, 2018, at Liberty High School, in Las Vegas. Benjamin Hager Las Vegas Review-Journal @benjaminhphoto

Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook cheers for Team Why Not during the Made Hoops Summer Showcase on Wednesday, July 25, 2018, at Liberty High School, in Las Vegas. Benjamin Hager Las Vegas Review-Journal @benjaminhphoto

Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook cheers for Team Why Not during the Made Hoops Summer Showcase on Wednesday, July 25, 2018, at Liberty High School, in Las Vegas. Benjamin Hager Las Vegas Review-Journal @benjaminhphoto

Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook cheers for Team Why Not during the Made Hoops Summer Showcase on Wednesday, July 25, 2018, at Liberty High School, in Las Vegas. Benjamin Hager Las Vegas Review-Journal @benjaminhphoto

Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook cheers for Team Why Not during the Made Hoops Summer Showcase on Wednesday, July 25, 2018, at Liberty High School, in Las Vegas. Benjamin Hager Las Vegas Review-Journal @benjaminhphoto

Las Vegas Prospects forward Jalen Hill (23) shoots over Seattle Rotary's Jaden McDaniels (2) in the first half during the Made Hoops Summer Showcase on Wednesday, July 25, 2018, at Liberty High School, in Las Vegas. Benjamin Hager Las Vegas Review-Journal @benjaminhphoto

Las Vegas Prospects forward Jalen Hill (23) shoots over Seattle Rotary's Jaden McDaniels (2) in the first half during the Made Hoops Summer Showcase on Wednesday, July 25, 2018, at Liberty High School, in Las Vegas. Benjamin Hager Las Vegas Review-Journal @benjaminhphoto

Las Vegas Prospects forward Jalen Hill (23) shoots over Seattle Rotary's Jaden McDaniels (2) in the first half during the Made Hoops Summer Showcase on Wednesday, July 25, 2018, at Liberty High School, in Las Vegas. Benjamin Hager Las Vegas Review-Journal @benjaminhphoto

Scottie Pippen, right, a six-time NBA champion with the Chicago Bulls, watches his son compete in the Made Hoops Summer Showcase on Wednesday, July 25, 2018, at Liberty High School, in Las Vegas. Benjamin Hager Las Vegas Review-Journal @benjaminhphoto

Oakland Soldiers point guard Scotty Pippen (3) shoots over Bradley Beal Elite forward Terrrence Hargrove Jr (22) in the first half during the Made Hoops Summer Showcase on Wednesday, July 25, 2018, at Liberty High School, in Las Vegas. Benjamin Hager Las Vegas Review-Journal @benjaminhphoto

Kenyon Martin, a 15-year NBA veteran, cheers for his son Kenyon Martin Jr during the Made Hoops Summer Showcase on Wednesday, July 25, 2018, at Liberty High School, in Las Vegas. Benjamin Hager Las Vegas Review-Journal @benjaminhphoto

Las Vegas Prospects guard Julian Strawther (1) shoots a corner jump shot in the first half during his game against the Seattle Rotary at the Made Hoops Summer Showcase on Wednesday, July 25, 2018, at Liberty High School, in Las Vegas. Benjamin Hager Las Vegas Review-Journal @benjaminhphoto

Las Vegas Prospects guard Julian Strawther (1) sprints up court past Seattle Rotary guard RaeQuan Battle (24) in the first half during the Made Hoops Summer Showcase on Wednesday, July 25, 2018, at Liberty High School, in Las Vegas. Benjamin Hager Las Vegas Review-Journal @benjaminhphoto

Las Vegas Prospects guard Julian Strawther (1) drives past Seattle Rotary forward Jaden McDaniels (2) in the first half during the Made Hoops Summer Showcase on Wednesday, July 25, 2018, at Liberty High School, in Las Vegas. Benjamin Hager Las Vegas Review-Journal @benjaminhphoto

Las Vegas Prospects guard Julian Strawther (1) shoots a free throw in the first half during his game against the Seattle Rotary at the Made Hoops Summer Showcase on Wednesday, July 25, 2018, at Liberty High School, in Las Vegas. Benjamin Hager Las Vegas Review-Journal @benjaminhphoto

Las Vegas Prospects point guard Jaden Hardy (3) shoots over Seattle Rotary guard Kenneth Curtis (1) in the first half during the Made Hoops Summer Showcase on Wednesday, July 25, 2018, at Liberty High School, in Las Vegas. Benjamin Hager Las Vegas Review-Journal @benjaminhphoto

Las Vegas Prospects point guard Jaden Hardy (3) drives past Seattle Rotary guard Kenneth Curtis (1) in the first half during the Made Hoops Summer Showcase on Wednesday, July 25, 2018, at Liberty High School, in Las Vegas. Benjamin Hager Las Vegas Review-Journal @benjaminhphoto

Las Vegas Prospects point guard Jaden Hardy (3) shoots over Seattle Rotary guard Kenneth Curtis (1) in the first half during the Made Hoops Summer Showcase on Wednesday, July 25, 2018, at Liberty High School, in Las Vegas. Benjamin Hager Las Vegas Review-Journal @benjaminhphoto

Las Vegas Prospects point guard Jaden Hardy (3) drives past Seattle Rotary forward Jaden McDaniels (2) in the first half during the Made Hoops Summer Showcase on Wednesday, July 25, 2018, at Liberty High School, in Las Vegas. Benjamin Hager Las Vegas Review-Journal @benjaminhphoto

Las Vegas Prospects point guard Jaden Hardy (3) drives past Seattle Rotary forward Jaden McDaniels (2) in the first half during the Made Hoops Summer Showcase on Wednesday, July 25, 2018, at Liberty High School, in Las Vegas. Benjamin Hager Las Vegas Review-Journal @benjaminhphoto

Las Vegas Prospects point guard Jaden Hardy (3) drives past Seattle Rotary defenders Jaden McDaniels (2) and Jishai Miller (12) in the first half during the Made Hoops Summer Showcase on Wednesday, July 25, 2018, at Liberty High School, in Las Vegas. Benjamin Hager Las Vegas Review-Journal @benjaminhphoto

Oakland Soldiers guard Gianni Hunt (0) drives past Bradley Beal Elite guard Caleb Love (3) in the first half during the Made Hoops Summer Showcase on Wednesday, July 25, 2018, at Liberty High School, in Las Vegas. Benjamin Hager Las Vegas Review-Journal @benjaminhphoto

Las Vegas Prospects guard Jaxen Turner (4) fights for a rebound with Seattle Rotary guard RaeQuan Battle (24) in the first half during the Made Hoops Summer Showcase on Wednesday, July 25, 2018, at Liberty High School, in Las Vegas. Benjamin Hager Las Vegas Review-Journal @benjaminhphoto

Las Vegas Prospects guard Joshua Christopher (32) drives past Seattle Rotary guard Kenneth Curtis (1) in the first half during the Made Hoops Summer Showcase on Wednesday, July 25, 2018, at Liberty High School, in Las Vegas. Benjamin Hager Las Vegas Review-Journal @benjaminhphoto
A pregame ruckus with an unruly fan Wednesday night cleared a gym at Liberty High School of about 150 spectators — including NBA superstar LeBron James, who had showed up to watch his son play in a basketball showcase.
The game between Bronny James’ North Coast Blue Chips and the Nike Meanstreets was canceled after a man wearing a Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls jersey began ridiculing the elder James and was denied entrance, according to a event official who declined to give his name.
The man, who was about 150 feet away from James, also screamed at event security and was eventually restrained, which triggered the cancellation and a brief altercation with security personnel.
An altercation broke out at Liberty, and the teams cleared the court. LeBron left the gym, too. Security trying to settle everything down. pic.twitter.com/l8mDTidP3i
— Sam Gordon (@BySamGordon) July 26, 2018
James, his wife, Savannah, and daughter, Zhuri, who were in seats along the court’s baseline, were promptly escorted out a side door with the Blue Chips players, all 13 and younger, while event security quelled the situation.
Spectators were redirected to the main gym, where a game between the Oakland Soldiers and Brad Beal Elite was being played. Meanstreets players waited in the auxiliary gym for several minutes.
Event director Chad Babel of Made Hoops declined comment.
James tried to attend a game last year at Cashman Center but overflow crowds triggered a fire hazard and he stayed away for safety concerns.
LeBron James is in the building. His son, Bronny, is set to play at 9:30 here at Liberty. pic.twitter.com/0Zg7RjYozA
— Sam Gordon (@BySamGordon) July 26, 2018
More than a thousand youth teams — boys and girls — from across the country are in Las Vegas this week for a series of AAU basketball tournaments
The altercation Wednesday came about 20 minutes before the younger James’ team was scheduled to play in an auxiliary gym.
Cancellation aside, Wednesday’s series of showcase games at Gorman and Liberty high schools were a success in terms of competition and attendance.
Hundreds of college coaches bounced between the two venues to watch some of the top youth players in the country.
Former NBA star Amar’e Stoudemire was at Gorman with New York Knicks rookie Kevin Knox. UNLV legend Greg Anthony was also at Gorman watching his son and top-ranked senior point guard, Cole Anthony, play against local standout Daishen Nix and the Simply Fundamental team.
Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Russell Westbrook sat on the bench while his AAU program, Team Why Not, played Team Bradley at Liberty. Denver Nuggets point guard Isaiah Thomas attended the Seattle Rotary’s game against the Las Vegas Prospects.
Former Chicago Bulls star Scottie Pippen and ex-NBA player Kenyon Martin watched their respective sons play for the Soldiers.
A previous version of this story incorrectly stated the basketball affiliation of the game.
Contact reporter Sam Gordon at sgordon@reviewjournal.com Follow @BySamGordon on Twitter
Related
NBA Summer League Tonight: LeBron James pays a visit
AAU basketball
What: Las Vegas Classic (668 teams); Fab 48 (489 teams); Las Vegas Finals (48 teams)
Where: Las Vegas Classic (35 sites); Fab 48 (18 sites); Las Vegas Finals (five sites)
Information: bigfoothoops.com (Las Vegas Classic); lasvegasfab48events.com (Fab 48); reboundhoops.com (Las Vegas Finals)