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LeBron embarrassed after egregious travel: 'I had a malfunction'

Melissa Majchrzak / National Basketball Association / Getty

LeBron James' egregious, uncalled travel quickly went viral on social media, but the superstar wasn't aware of the violation until halftime of the Los Angeles Lakers' 121-96 win over the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night.

"It was the worst thing, probably one of the worst things I've ever done in my career," James told reporters postgame, including ESPN's Dave McMenamin. "I didn't realize I did it until halftime. One of my coaches showed me."

Jazz forward Bojan Bogdanovic raised his arms in disbelief as James took three-and-a-half steps without dribbling during a first-half sequence.

A fan let the four-time MVP know about the play during the third quarter, prompting James to acknowledge his uncalled turnover.

The 34-year-old knows he got away with a travel, and he said a collision involving teammate Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Jazz star Donovan Mitchell was partly to blame for his momentary lapse in focus.

"I think at the same time, I was watching the underneath play, and KCP and Donovan got into it. KCP started to run, and Donovan bumped into him, he fell on the ground," James said. "I think I was ready to pass the ball, and my brain just kind of just, I had a malfunction. I really had a malfunction."

James finished the game with 20 points and 12 assists.

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