Report: Lakers contact NBA over lack of foul calls for LeBron
The Los Angeles Lakers contacted the NBA head office Tuesday over numerous missed foul calls for star forward LeBron James after Monday's narrow 108-107 loss to the Miami Heat, sources told ESPN's Dave McMenamin.
L.A. shared various clips showing illegal contact by Heat defenders on James that went unpunished, according to McMenamin.
James was vocal about his free-throw total after the loss and questioned the officiating crew's explanation for not calling fouls.
"What they're telling me is not consistent with what's actually happening on the floor," James said Monday. "When I went for the dunk attempt against Thomas Bryant, he clearly elbowed - arm straight across my face. And I asked (a referee) 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."
BRON GOT SMACKED IN THE FACE… NO FOUL. pic.twitter.com/oAWg2tPBR6
— Lakers All Day Everyday (@LADEig) November 7, 2023
The Lakers reportedly shared this clip with the league office.
The NBA's last-two-minute report also shows no incorrectly called plays. James is mentioned twice on the receiving end of a pair of correct no-calls, both involving Heat star Jimmy Butler.
James commented on the findings Tuesday:
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. https://t.co/ReW6r43Wax
— LeBron James (@KingJames) November 8, 2023
On the season, James is averaging 5.7 free-throw attempts per game. In three of the Lakers' seven games, he shot four or fewer. James has averaged 6.2 free throws per contest over his tenure with the franchise.
In January, referees missed a shooting foul on Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum that would've sent James to the free-throw line for a potential game-winning attempt.
The Lakers are 3-4 this season and rank 10th in the Western Conference. They take on the Houston Rockets on Wednesday.