LeBron James has left Lakers fans stunned as he announced his decision to sit out the preseason game against the Milwaukee Bucks, scheduled for Thursday. The NBA legend took to social media to express his frustration with the team’s travel plans, posting, “Can someone please explain to me why we’re getting on a [plane emoji] and heading to Milwaukee for 1 pre-season game!?!?”

In a surprising move, James has now declared that he won’t make the trip. “I’ve thought about it, and I’m staying home. There’s no reason to travel for just one game,” LeBron said in a statement. The Lakers are set to travel 1,750 miles to face the Bucks, led by Giannis Antetokounmpo, and this long preseason journey seems to have irked the star player.

The Lakers’ preseason schedule has been less than ideal, with none of their games being held at their home court, Crypto.com Arena, which is currently undergoing renovations. James questioned the need for such a distant game when the team could have faced a local opponent. He added, “I love the game, but these kinds of preseason schedules don’t make sense when we’ve been playing close to home for weeks.”

Lakers coach JJ Redick echoed the sentiment, describing the preseason as “not ideal” for the team. With the Lakers’ regular season set to begin on October 22, James’ decision adds to the growing tension surrounding the team’s preseason travel plans.