LeBron James slammed a Texas state trooper after video showed the officer bumping into two South Carolina players during a chaotic moment at Kyle Field, and he’s demanding the cop be suspended. 

The clip, captured after Nyck Harbor’s 80-yard touchdown on Nov. 15, shows the trooper wedge between Harbor and teammate Oscar Adaway III, make contact, then pivot and point at the players in a confrontational way. This footage immediately went viral and drew widespread condemnation. 

James posted on X: “That A&M cop needs to be suspended! That was premeditated and corny AF!! He went out his way to start some shit. Do better man.” His message amplified what many social-media users called an unnecessary show of force against student-athletes, and it drew national attention to the moment. 

LeBron wasn’t alone in his sentiments. Former NFL tight end Benjamin Watson called the trooper’s behavior “trash,” asking, “Seriously. What are you doing?!” Critics argued the incident wasn’t just an isolated misstep but part of a broader pattern in which authority figures escalate when athletes, especially Black athletes, are simply moving through public spaces. 

Between the outcry from the public and high-profile athletes, Texas officials moved swiftly to address the problem.The Texas Department of Public Safety confirmed the trooper was removed from his game-day assignment and said its Office of Inspector General is reviewing the interaction. Texas A&M also acknowledged the incident and said the trooper was relieved of duty while the matter is investigated. 

The footage has reopened debates about athlete safety, policing at sporting events, and accountability for officers whose actions are captured on camera. With major figures like LeBron weighing in, public pressure is likely to shape the outcome of the DPS review and, at minimum, it’s forced stakeholders to answer tough questions about how game-day security is managed.