LeBron: Officials trying 'to turn me into a jump shooter'

LeBron James is always going to be aggressive in attacking the basket and creating contact, but he doesn't feel as though the officials are doing him any favors.

Late in the third quarter of Tuesday's 108-97 win over the Miami Heat, the Cleveland Cavaliers forward was ejected for the first time in his career after venting his frustrations over a non-call to referee Kane Fitzgerald, as he felt he was fouled all the way up the court. After the game, James was brutally honest in his assessment of how refs have been calling him all season long.

"I think I'm one of the league leaders in points in the paint. I drive just as much as anybody. At this point, it's like almost they try to turn me into a jump shooter. I can't be a jump shooter," said James. "I'm not a jump shooter.

"I watch games every single night and I see jump shooters going to the line multiple, double-digit times every night. And I'm not a jump shooter, and I get fouled just like everybody else do. One time going to the line, one time, three times or four times, that's not what it's about."

Entering Tuesday's matchup, James was averaging four points on four touches in the paint per game, far below star big men like Anthony Davis (10.8) and Andre Drummond (10.6).

On drives, however, the four-time Most Valuable Player ranked sixth overall with 8.4 points on 11 drives per contest, getting fouled 10.5 percent of the time.

Against Miami, James missed his only free-throw attempt, marking the third time this season where he's played 27 or more minutes and gotten to the line just once. His 5.4 attempts per game through 21 outings are the lowest of his 15-year career.

Nonetheless, James still finished with an impressive line of 21 points, 12 rebounds, six assists, five steals, and a block against his former squad before heading to the locker room, as Cleveland won its ninth game in a row.