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“He stole Luka from us” – Cops take aim at LeBron James during J.R. Smith's arrest
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- “He stole Luka from us” – Cops take aim at LeBron James during J.R. Smith's arrest
Over the years, fans have become accustomed to seeing police chase down athletes or get into confrontations with them over various disputes. However, one of the strangest encounters came when JR Smith was stopped by Royce City Police Department officers on a Texas roadway on September 28.
According to new police footage obtained by the California Post, officers initially suspected Smith of having an outstanding warrant for his arrest. But as they investigated the situation, the conversation took an unexpected turn when one of the cops complained to Smith about his former championship-winning teammate and friend, LeBron James .
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Cops fire shot at LeBron
As the cops asked JR to step out of his vehicle while they looked into the situation, they casually started discussing basketball.
In the process, as the cops asked Smith whether he had won an NBA championship and which teams he had played for, they became familiar with his relationship with King James.
One particular officer, who appeared to be a Dallas Mavericks fan, made it clear that he was not a fan of James. In fact, he seemed convinced that the four-time MVP was responsible for the Mavs' misfortune, specifically the blockbuster trade that sent Luka Doncic to the Lakers in 2025.
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"He (LeBron) stole Luka from us," an officer told Smith. "He stole Luka from us. That was all him."
While another officer said nobody was happy about the trade, the cop in question made it clear that he is still "mad" and hasn't gotten over it just yet.
Clearly, even though 19-year-old Cooper Flagg is still leading the Mavs with 25.2 points per game thus far in the 2026-27 season, some Mavs loyalists are still stuck on Luka.
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JR was sternly sent his way
Interestingly, as ironic as the basketball conversation was, it ended abruptly once officers confirmed that Smith had an active warrant.
He was subsequently placed in handcuffs without further delay.
It was eventually revealed that Smith was wanted by the Southlake Police Department on a charge of assault causing bodily injury involving family violence. The warrant stemmed from an alleged altercation with a woman during an incident on September 18 in Trrant County.
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That being said, this footage has undoubtedly brought renewed attention to the resentment some Mavs fans continue to hold toward LeBron in Dallas.
However, that narrative overlooks the fact that Anthony Davis, who was sent to Dallas as part of the deal, was also repeatedly blindsided by the trade and that James, who shared a close relationship with him, clearly had no prior knowledge of it.
Related: LeBron James turns an ordinary night into a spectacle with wine and a twerking celebration
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Nov 3, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
