Lakers File Complaint With NBA Over LeBron James' Free Throws

Photo: Instagram/LeBron James

In a surprising turn of events, the Los Angeles Lakers have officially filed a complaint with the NBA league office, alleging that LeBron James is not receiving enough foul calls during games.

This move comes after Monday's narrow 108-107 loss to the Miami Heat, during which both James and head coach Darvin Ham expressed their frustration with missed foul calls. The complaint, as reported by ESPN's Dave McMenamin, points to "numerous missed foul calls," with a particular focus on perceived non-calls against James.

The Lakers even provided video evidence from the game to support their claim of illegal contact against the star player. In that game, LeBron James finished with 30 points but made only four free throws.

Photo: Instagram/LeBron James

In contrast, the Miami Heat attempted 16 free throws as a team, while the Lakers had 14 attempts. The Lakers were also penalized with 17 fouls, while the Heat received 14. 

James himself addressed a specific missed call after the game, highlighting an incident in which he appeared to have been elbowed in the face without a foul being called. This particular non-call resulted in a technical foul for Coach Darvin Ham, who protested the officiating. 

This play is the one under scrutiny:

One of the central issues at hand is LeBron James' free-throw rate this season, which is at a career-low 5.7 attempts per game through seven games. This is significantly below his career average of 7.7 attempts per game. 

While James has shifted his playing style towards more perimeter and three-point shooting, he remains a vocal critic of NBA officiating and its impact on his free-throw rate. This is not the first time James and the Lakers have raised concerns about officiating. 


In the past, James has used social media and post-game interviews to express his views. In fact, earlier this year, he even suggested a conspiracy theory on social media, hinting that the NBA might be biased against him and the Lakers.

It's important to note that missed calls are a common occurrence in sports, and officiating is a challenging task. Calls can sometimes go in favor of a team, and sometimes they do not.


The Lakers, however, are known for being vocal about calls that they believe went against them, and this formal complaint to the NBA is the latest expression of their discontent.

The question remains: Is LeBron James being officiated fairly, and will the NBA address the Lakers' concerns? The league will likely investigate the matter further to ensure transparency and fairness in its officiating.

Read Next: Rams Sign QB Carson Wentz As Backup For Matthew Stafford; Brett Rypien Waived

Source: Yahoo Sports
 

Comments

Trending Now

Mike Tyson Explains Viral Jake Paul Slap: 'He Stepped On My Foot'

Katie Taylor Suspended After Controversial Win Over Amanda Serrano

Steph Curry Wants Caitlin Clark, Klay Thompson In All-Star Three-Point Contest

Dwight Howard Wants To Join Thunder After Chet Holmgren’s Injury

Ryan Garcia Plans Return To Boxing In December, Eyes Fight With Jake Paul

Evander Holyfield Reveals The Best Fighter He Ever Faced

Ye Faces Lawsuit Over Alleged Copyright Theft In 'Vultures 1'

Prosecutors Say Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Is Trying To Influence Witnesses And The Jury While In Jail

Jon Jones Predicts Gable Steveson Will Become UFC Champion

Jake Paul Challenges Canelo Alvarez: “He Just Wants Money”