In a move that stunned fans and left the NBA world buzzing, LeBron James was booted from the court mid-game for violating the league’s controversial “No-Phones During Games” policy. Yes, you heard that right — the King of basketball was kicked out of his own team’s game, not for a bad foul, not for trash-talking, but for simply pulling out his phone during a timeout.

The shocking ejection took place during the third quarter of a heated matchup between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics at Crypto.com Arena. The game was tied, the tension was high, and fans were glued to their seats. That is, until LeBron decided to casually pull out his phone and start scrolling, presumably checking his notifications or sending a quick tweet.

Spectators were stunned as LeBron, barely breaking a sweat, lifted his phone to take a selfie and shared it on Instagram with the caption, “Locked in. Game face on.” The post, accompanied by a few choice hashtags like #StriveForGreatness and #KingJames, lit up the social media world within seconds. But apparently, it didn’t go over well with league officials.

Within moments, a referee blew the whistle and signaled for a stop in play. Security approached LeBron, who at first appeared to think they were coming to offer him some water or maybe a high-five. Instead, they informed him that he had violated the strict “No-Phones” rule, and much to the disbelief of the crowd, LeBron was asked to leave the court.

The NBA’s rule prohibiting players from using mobile devices during games was implemented earlier this year as part of a broader effort to maintain the focus and professionalism of the sport. The rule applies to all players, coaches, and team staff, and was designed to ensure that no distractions interfere with the competitive spirit of the game. However, no one expected that it would one day lead to the ejection of one of the sport’s greatest players.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver released a statement on the incident, saying, “The rules are the rules, and they apply to everyone. We understand that LeBron is a global icon, but when it comes to upholding the integrity of the game, no one is above the law. We have a responsibility to ensure that the game is played with the utmost respect, focus, and discipline.”

Silver’s statement may have been measured, but it didn’t stop fans from unleashing a wave of opinions on social media. The hashtag #FreeLeBron quickly started trending on Twitter, with fans expressing their shock and frustration over the league’s strict enforcement of what many viewed as a trivial rule.

LeBron, true to his nature, seemed to take the incident in stride. As he was escorted off the court, he once again whipped out his phone and started filming, flashing a grin to the camera. “So, I guess you can’t even take a selfie during a timeout anymore. Who knew?” he said, in a lighthearted tone, before adding, “But hey, rules are rules, right?”

On his way out, LeBron continued engaging with fans, signing autographs, taking more selfies, and even jokingly tweeting, “Looks like I’ve got more time to respond to your comments now. Hit me up!”

After the game, during a press conference, he addressed the situation, saying, “I’ve been playing this game for over 20 years. If I want to check my phone real quick, I didn’t think it was that big of a deal. But hey, lesson learned. Next time, I’ll wait until halftime.”

The internet, as it does, wasted no time in reacting to the incident, and opinions were fiercely divided. Some fans were outraged by the decision, seeing it as an unnecessary and over-the-top enforcement of a rule that should be relaxed.

“I mean, seriously? Kicking out LeBron because he checked his phone? What’s next, benching him for sneezing?!” tweeted one fan. Others defended the league, arguing that rules are meant to be followed and that the policy helps maintain the game’s integrity.

“If LeBron can use his phone, then what’s to stop other players from doing the same? You can’t just pick and choose when to enforce the rules,” said another.

Even celebrities chimed in, with Chrissy Teigen tweeting, “I don’t even know sports, but kicking out LeBron for a selfie seems like the most ‘sports’ thing to do. #FreeLeBron.”

While the incident was certainly entertaining, it raised questions about the future of the NBA and its approach to modern distractions. In an age where social media engagement is crucial for athletes, is it reasonable to ask them to completely disconnect during games? Some argue that the league should embrace the evolving role of athletes as influencers and find a middle ground that allows them to engage with fans without disrupting the flow of the game.

Others, however, believe that the NBA’s stance is justified and necessary to preserve the integrity of the sport. “If players are too busy updating their statuses, how are they supposed to concentrate on the game? There’s a time and a place for everything,” said one sports analyst.

Some are even speculating that LeBron’s ejection might have been a carefully orchestrated marketing ploy. After all, who gets kicked out of a game for using their phone and then gains millions of social media followers? The incident could pave the way for a new marketing campaign, with companies lining up to sponsor the “official NBA timeout phone case,” ensuring that no one ever gets kicked out of a game again.

LeBron’s agent refused to comment on the rumors, but one thing is certain: the incident has only added to his already immense popularity. In fact, reports suggest that several tech companies have already reached out to LeBron to discuss collaborations, including one that is said to be working on “hands-free” technology that would allow him to interact with fans without ever having to pick up his phone.

Despite the drama, LeBron’s focus remains on winning games, and he has assured fans that he will be back on the court, ready to play, for the next game. However, the incident has sparked a broader conversation about the league’s rules and whether or not they should be adapted to better suit the modern era.

Some fans have even started a petition to get the NBA to relax its “No-Phones” policy, and within hours, it garnered thousands of signatures. Whether or not the league will consider these requests remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure: LeBron has once again managed to dominate the headlines, even when he’s not playing.

In the end, LeBron’s ejection over a simple selfie might seem like a small matter, but it has sparked an outpouring of reactions that highlight the complex intersection of sports, social media, and modern-day stardom. While some might view the incident as a cautionary tale about the importance of following rules, others see it as a reflection of how athletes’ roles are evolving in a digital age.

One thing is certain: whether on the court, on social media, or even in the middle of a media frenzy, LeBron James knows how to make headlines. And if the NBA thought that kicking him out would make people focus solely on the game, they might need to rethink their strategy.

As LeBron tweeted later that night, “You can kick me out, but you can’t keep me down. See y’all next game… maybe without my phone this time.”