LeBron James, the star player of the Los Angeles Lakers, expressed his dissatisfaction with the officiating during the team’s narrow 108-107 loss to the Miami Heat on Monday. Following the release of the NBA’s Last Two Minute Report, which stated that there were no incorrect calls made in the final two minutes of the game, James took to social media to emphasize that important moments can occur throughout the entirety of a contest.
LeBron James Comments on NBA’s Last 2 Minute Report Following Lakers’ Defeat Against the Heat
In a post on his social media accounts, James stated, “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 the 4th that have a MAJOR impact on outcomes.” He expressed his belief that the focus should not solely be on the final moments of the game but rather on the events that unfold throughout the entire duration of the match.
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
During the game, James only attempted four free throws, a fact that did not sit well with Lakers head coach Darvin Ham. Ham voiced his frustration with the officiating, pointing out that James was frequently fouled while attacking the rim but did not receive the necessary calls. Ham stated, “I see Bron shooting four free throws, and the amount of times he attacked the rim, the amount of times he was slapped on the arm, which I could see plain as day, for that not to be called, man… He’s not flopping. I’m watching him go to the hole strong.”
Despite the lack of free-throw attempts, James had an impressive performance, contributing 30 points, four rebounds, three assists, three blocks, and one steal in 37 minutes of play. With key players like Anthony Davis dealing with a hip injury and D’Angelo Russell being ejected from the game, the Lakers heavily relied on James for offensive production.
Lakers Reached Out to the NBA Office
According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, the Lakers organization reached out to the NBA office to express their concerns about what they perceived as missed calls in relation to James’ treatment by the officials. They provided the league with video clips highlighting instances of what they believed to be clear illegal contact by Heat defenders against James that went unnoticed by the referees.
James himself pointed to a missed call near the end of the third quarter as an example of the inconsistent officiating he encountered. He described an incident where Miami’s Thomas Bryant made contact with him during a dunk attempt, but no foul was called. James recounted, “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.”
By highlighting this particular play, James aimed to demonstrate that missed calls can have an impact on the game beyond the last two minutes, supporting his earlier statements on social media.
While the Lakers’ concerns regarding the officiating in their game against the Heat may not change the final result, their actions highlight the ongoing debate around the consistency and accuracy of referee decisions. The Last Two Minute Report, intended to provide transparency, has once again sparked discussions and criticism regarding the effectiveness of officiating in the NBA. As the season progresses, it remains to be seen how the league and its officials will address and respond to such concerns raised by players and teams.