By Cesare Milanti / info@eurohoops.net
Recently, the Los Angeles Lakers suffered a 108-107 loss against the Miami Heat and reportedly contacted the NBA league office after the defeat about “what they view as numerous missed foul calls”, especially on LeBron James.
Following the encounter, the former Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers superstar criticized the way the game was conducted by the refereeing trio. “I mean, I don’t know what to [say]. I’m going over to them respectfully and telling them what’s going on in the plays and I consistently go to the line three or four times a game. Sometimes not even at all, which is weird. We had some tough break calls tonight for sure, and not in our favor tonight”, he commented.
The Los Angeles Lakers veteran also explained his opinion through an actual example. “What they’re telling me is not consistent with what’s actually happening on the floor. When I went for the dunk attempt against Thomas Bryant, he clearly elbowed – like, arm straight across my face. And I asked him for the explanation; well, one of the refs said that he was straight up, hands straight in the air. Two of the refs said they were blocked and they didn’t see it”, LeBron James said.
After the NBA stated all the calls made in the last two minutes of the encounter were correct, LeBron James shared the following on his X profile: “The game isn’t won or lost in the last 2 mins! If you know the game things happen throughout the 1st, 2nd. 3rd and first 10 mins of 4th that has MAJOR impact on outcomes”.
In his 20th NBA season and 6th with the purple-and-yellow franchise, the soon-to-be 39-year-old legendary player is averaging 25.3 points, 8.4 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.1 blocks over 35.7 minutes per game. The Los Angeles Lakers are now 10th in the Western Conference with a 3-4 record.
PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images