{"id":2253393,"date":"2024-05-26T14:01:02","date_gmt":"2024-05-26T18:01:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/watch-lakers-star-lebron-james-gets-caught-up-in-illegal-streaming-scandal\/"},"modified":"2024-05-26T14:07:05","modified_gmt":"2024-05-26T18:07:05","slug":"watch-lakers-star-lebron-james-gets-caught-up-in-illegal-streaming-scandal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/watch-lakers-star-lebron-james-gets-caught-up-in-illegal-streaming-scandal\/","title":{"rendered":"Discover: LeBron James, Lakers Prodigy, Entangled in Unlawful Streaming Controversy"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fwatch-lakers-star-lebron-james-gets-caught-up-in-illegal-streaming-scandal%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2253393&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Basketball superstar LeBron James\u2062 is under scrutiny after a clip showed him next to a man illegally streaming\u2062 an NBA game. \u2063This incident happened during James&#8217;s minimal presence in the 2024 NBA Playoffs, where his team, the Los Angeles Lakers, faced a swift exit. The \u2062clip went \u200bviral despite the uncertainty of James&#8217;s association with the man or \u200cif\u200c he himself was using\u200b the illegal streaming site, StreamEast. The issue of illegal sports \u2062streaming is rising in tandem with high broadcast costs, impacting leagues and their audiences. This particular incident, involving a top player, puts the issue squarely in the limelight.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<header> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/news\/\">  News <\/a>    <span> <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/bchai\/\">  <\/a> <\/p>\n<p> <span>   By <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/bchai\/%20\"><span>Bryan Chai<\/span><\/a> <\/span> <span>   May 26, 2024 at 9:39am <\/span> <\/span>  <\/header>\n<section>\n<p>LeBron James and his Los Angeles Lakers haven\u2019t had much of a presence in the 2024 NBA Playoffs after being meekly bounced in the first round by the Denver Nuggets.<\/p>\n<p>Losing a series in just five games to last year\u2019s champions, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/espn-analyst-torches-lebron-james-tells-take-accountability-lakers-coach-darvin-ham-gets-fired\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">James<\/a> and the Lakers have been little more than an NBA afterthought as some of the league\u2019s youngest stars have taken center stage in the playoffs.<\/p>\n<p>(The best player on each of the final four teams left are 25-year-old Dallas Mavericks superstar <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/larry-bird-2-0-nba-superstar-accomplishes-feat-mj-wilt-magic-lebron-kobe-never\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Luka Doncic<\/a>, 22-year-old Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards, 26-year-old Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum and 24-year-old Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton.)<\/p>\n<p>But that doesn\u2019t mean James has stayed out of headlines \u2014 he\u2019s just in them now for the wrong reasons.<\/p>\n<p>In fact, there\u2019s a good chance the NBA is going to be livid with its premiere star after the scene James recently found himself in.<\/p>\n<p>First, a quick bit of background: Watching every NBA game is a costly endeavor for the league\u2019s fans.<\/p>\n<p>Your options are either traditional cable packages (not cheap), NBA League Pass (which comes in at a pricey $23 a month) or \u2026 less savory (read: illegal) means.<\/p>\n<p>There are a number of illegal streaming sites \u2014 which The Western Journal obviously won\u2019t link to, but they are incredibly easy to find \u2014 that broadcast major sports games, and the only thing you will need to pay for is an internet connection.<\/p>\n<p>Surely you can see where this is going.<\/p>\n<div id=\"firefly-poll-container\">\n<p>Do you like LeBron James?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The 39-year-old James went viral after a clip surfaced of him attending a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/watch-players-viciously-attack-ref-after-youth-basketball-game\/\" title=\"WATCH: Players Viciously Attack Ref After Youth Basketball Game\">youth basketball game<\/a> on Friday night. Next to James was an unidentified man who was clearly using StreamEast \u2014 one of the most popular of the illegal streaming sites \u2014 to watch Game 2 of the Mavs-Wolves Western Conference Finals.<\/p>\n<p>You can view the viral clip for yourself below:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">even LeBron using Stream East \ud83d\ude2d <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/tDt25fvDyV\">pic.twitter.com\/tDt25fvDyV<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/LakeShowYo\/status\/1794220818089873898?\">May 25, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>According to the website <a href=\"https:\/\/awfulannouncing.com\/nba\/lebron-james-illegal-streameast-site-upsets-fans.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Awful Announcing<\/a>, in the clip, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/lebron-james-court-temper-tantrum-draws-groveling-official-response-nba-referees-union\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">polarizing James<\/a> was attending the Nike EYBL tournament on Friday. He was watching his AAU team, Team Strive For Greatness, play.<\/p>\n<p>Now, in total fairness to James, it\u2019s not clear what, if any, relationship he has with the person sitting next to him. In the video, James did appear to speak briefly to the man, so they might at least be acquainted.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s also not abundantly clear that James was actually partaking in utilizing StreamEast to catch up on the Mavs-Wolves series (Dallas leads the series 2-0 going into Sunday\u2019s critical Game 3).<\/p>\n<p>Regardless, this is an abjectly awful look for the league.<\/p>\n<p>If the mystery man using StreamEast was indeed a James associate, or if James himself was actually using StreamEast to watch the NBA, neither of which is clear from this clip, that\u2019s horrible for the league.<\/p>\n<p>James, the NBA\u2019s all-time leading scorer, has made an eye-watering $479 million from his playing career alone, per <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spotrac.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/2257\/lebron-james\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Spotrac<\/a>. That doesn\u2019t include endorsements, bonuses and other outside business ventures he\u2019s had.<\/p>\n<p>If he doesn\u2019t want to pay for NBA League Pass, how in the world could the NBA expect 9-5 workers to pay for the premium subscription service?<\/p>\n<p>Now, if James has nothing to do with this mystery man and his StreamEast proclivities, it\u2019s still not a great look for the NBA.<\/p>\n<p>While James may be the reason the clip is certifiably viral, it can\u2019t be understated just how prevalent illegal sports streaming is \u2014 and that\u2019s an issue afflicting the NFL and MLB, as well.<\/p>\n<p>(It\u2019ll be interesting to see if the WNBA\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/caitlin-clark-shines-wnba-pre-season-debut-front-sold-crowd\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">recent surge<\/a> in popularity will lead to more illegal streaming sites carrying their games.)<\/p>\n<p>This is a real problem for all sports leagues, and no amount of warning is stemming the tide. Yes, StreamEast and other illegal streaming services include the part of sports broadcasts where a stern voice declares that \u201cAny rebroadcast, retransmission, or account of this game, without the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ukraine-utilizing-tracking-and-deception-to-infiltrate-russia\/\" title=\"Ukraine Utilizing Tracking and Deception to Infiltrate Russia\">express written consent<\/a> of Major League Baseball\/the National Football League\/the National Basketball Association, is prohibited.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The fact that anyone around James\u2019 inner circle \u2014 or at least within his orbit at a Nike tournament \u2014 is flippantly and publicly using this illegal service should be a major concern for the league. In fact, \u201cscandal\u201d is a fair word for it.<\/p>\n<p>While a glass-half-full approach might suggest that interest in the NBA is at an all-time high, it still doesn\u2019t change the fact that thousands (millions?) are being priced out of watching NBA playoff games, and thus turning to illegal means to watch sports.<\/p>\n<p>Whether or not the NBA\u2019s biggest star is using illegal streaming services to watch basketball games is almost beside the point.<\/p>\n<p>Illegal sports streaming is <em>everywhere<\/em>, and it\u2019s now getting uncomfortably close to some of the biggest star athletes on the planet \u2014 if it\u2019s not already there.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<div>\n<p><b><i>A Note from Our Deputy Managing Editor:<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p><i><span>I heard a chilling comment the other day: \u201cWe don\u2019t even know if an election will be held in 2024.\u201d <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>That wasn\u2019t said by a conspiracy theorist or a doomsday prophet. No, former U.S. national security advisor Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn said that to the founder of The Western Journal, Floyd Brown.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>Gen. Flynn\u2019s warning means that the 2024 election is the most important election for every single living American. If we lose this one to the wealthy elites who hate us, hate God, and hate what America stands for, we can only assume that 248 years of American history and the values we hold dear to our hearts may soon vanish.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>The end game is here, and as Benjamin Franklin said, \u201cWe must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>All of this means that <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/subscribe\/?utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>without you<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>, it\u2019s over. We have the platform, the journalists, and the experience to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/desantis-rises-as-he-promises-hes-only-begun-to-fight-put-on-full-armor-of-god-to-fight-the-left\/\" title=\"DeSantis Rises As He Promises He\u2019s \u2018Only Begun To Fight\u2019: \u2018Put On Full Armor Of God\u2019 To Fight The Left\">fight back hard<\/a>, but Big Tech is strangling us through advertising blacklists, shadow bans, and algorithms. Did you know that we\u2019ve been blacklisted by 90% of advertisers? Without direct support from you, our readers, we can\u2019t continue the fight.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>Can we count on <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/subscribe\/?utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>your support<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>? It may not seem like much, but a <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/subscribe\/?utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>Western Journal Membership<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>  can make all the difference in the world because when you support us directly, you cut Big Tech out of the picture. They lose control. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>A monthly Western Journal Membership costs less than one coffee and breakfast sandwich each month, and it gets you access to ALL of our content \u2014 news, commentary, and premium articles. You\u2019ll experience a radically reduced number of ads, and most importantly you will be vitally supporting the fight for America\u2019s soul in 2024.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>We are literally counting on you because without our members, The Western Journal would cease to exist. Will you <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/subscribe\/?utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>join us<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>  in the fight? <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>Sincerely,<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>Josh Manning<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>Deputy Managing Editor<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>The Western Journal<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"author-info-44778\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/bchai\/\">  <\/a> <\/p>\n<div>\n<p><label for=\"summary-tab-radio-44778\">Summary<\/label><label for=\"more-info-tab-radio-44778\">More<span> Biographical Information<\/span><\/label><label for=\"posts-tab-radio-44778\">Recent<span> Posts<\/span><\/label><label for=\"contact-tab-radio-44778\" onclick=\"if( typeof grecaptcha=='undefined' ) { let cap_s=document.createElement( 'script' ); cap_s.src='https:\/\/www.google.com\/recaptcha\/api.js?render=6LeJFcsUAAAAAPsIEqvB1EebWbZfqRUe6ebMpGy7'; document.body.appendChild( cap_s ); }\">Contact<\/label><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Bryan Chai has written news and sports for The Western Journal for more than five years and has produced more than 1,300 stories. He specializes in the NBA and NFL as well as politics.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<p>  Bryan Chai has written news and sports for The Western Journal for more than five years and has produced more than 1,300 stories. He specializes in the NBA and NFL as well as politics. He graduated with a BA in Creative Writing from the University of Arizona. He is an avid fan of sports, video games, politics and debate. <\/p>\n<p>  Birthplace <\/p>\n<p>  Hawaii <\/p>\n<p>  Education <\/p>\n<p>  Class of 2010 University of Arizona. BEAR DOWN. <\/p>\n<p>  Location <\/p>\n<p>  Phoenix, Arizona <\/p>\n<p>  Languages Spoken <\/p>\n<p>  English, Korean <\/p>\n<p>  Topics of Expertise <\/p>\n<p>  Sports, Entertainment, Science\/Tech <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Bryan Chai reported on May 26, 2024 that LeBron James and the LA Lakers had a limited appearance in the 2024 NBA Playoffs after a swift departure in round one courtesy of Denver Nuggets. The Lakers, having suffered a five-game defeat to the prior year&#8217;s champions, struggled under James&#8217; leadership<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2015,"featured_media":2253394,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/lebron-james-for-may-26-2024.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2253393","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/lebron-james-for-may-26-2024.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2253393","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2015"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2253393"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2253393\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2253394"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2253393"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2253393"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2253393"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}