LeBron shares the most egregious travelling violation he has ever committed: "The basketball gods was not on my side"

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LeBron shares the most egregious travelling violation he has ever committed: "The basketball gods was not on my side" originally appeared on Basketball Network.
Being the NBA megastar he is, LeBron James has always been a magnet for criticism. One of the most common criticisms thrown at him is his tendency to commit traveling violations on the court. In fact, there have been countless discussions about whether Bron gets away with traveling more often than he should.
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However, in a recent "Mind the Game" episode with Steve Nash, LeBron was candid enough to admit to committing one of his most egregious traveling violations in league history. It happened on February 6, 2017, when he was still playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers. In a tight game against the Washington Wizards, James saw an open lane to the rim and took off for an uncontested layup. However, in his eagerness to get there faster, he inadvertently took a few extra steps before taking off.
The "basketball gods" saw what LeBron did
With the spotlight on King James at all times, it has been fairly easy for hoop fans to spot when he gets away with traveling. Some have even dubbed it the "LeTravel" move, poking fun at his ability to seemingly glide across the court without ever dribbling the ball.
But in a rare moment of justice, the basketball gods intervened to ensure that LeBron was held accountable for his travels. James blew the wide-open layup as he drove toward the rim, with no player between him and the basket.
"You know what, the basketball gods were not on my side," he said with a smile. "We were down one. I got the ball in transition, about half court, and I was driving the lane — it's late in the game. I was driving the lane, and I got into the lane, and I traveled like a MFer."
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"I got all the way to the lane and missed the layup. Missed the layup," LeBron admitted. "They did not call the travel. I blew the layup."
Fortunately, King James redeemed himself a few moments later as he banked in an improbable triple before the final buzzer to tie the game at 120-all and send the contest to overtime, where they eventually won, 140-135.
"Basketball gods stayed with me a little bit," he commented while sharing a laugh with Nash. "Well, I mean, they came back around. Because I'm true to the game. I missed it. If I would have made it, then… you know…"
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LeBron is human
For all the superhuman feats Bron executes on the floor, his admission about committing traveling violations shows that even the best players in the league are still human and, ultimately, fallible. As a matter of fact, James — who's known for his keen memory — recalled another terrible travel call that went uncalled this past season.
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"I had one this past season, too, in Orlando," he remembered. "That was so bad. Switched my pivot feet. Missed the shot too. No call. Just straight up — pivoting on one, changed to the other."
"Terrible. Drove down the lane. I was at the elbow. Pivot foot — oh, I didn't like that one. Switched it. Drove. Shot a floater. Hit the side of the backboard," he concluded.
LeBron's critics often call him out for the preferential whistle he usually gets from the officials. But such is life for basketball royalty. Some of the greatest players in history have benefited from favorable calls at times, and James — traveling violations be damned — is no exception.
Related: 'How many times does he travel per game?' - Antoine Carr sided with his Finals tormentor in the Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James debate
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 25, 2025, where it first appeared.