LeBron James' Lack of Free Throws Prompts Lakers To Complain to NBA
Lakers coach Darvin Ham expressed his frustration with the officiating after Monday night's 108-107 loss to the Heat in Miami, particularly concerning superstar LeBron James. Megan Briggs/Getty Images

The Los Angeles Lakers have reached out to the NBA league office to express their concerns about several missed foul calls on LeBron James they believe impacted their recent 108-107 loss to the Miami Heat, per ESPN.

According to sources, the Lakers' primary grievance revolves around how LeBron James was officiated during the game.

They provided the league with video clips illustrating instances of what they view as clear illegal contact by Heat defenders against James that went unpenalized.

In the game against Miami, James attempted just four free throws, which has brought his season average to 5.7 attempts.

This figure could tie a single-season career-low if it persists. According to data from Second Spectrum, James has drawn a foul on only 6% of his drives this season, marking the eighth-lowest rate among the 34 players who have recorded 70 or more drives in the 2023-24 season.

After the game, James expressed dissatisfaction with the explanations provided by the officiating crew regarding the non-calls.

He cited one of the missed calls, involving Heat center Thomas Bryant making contact with his face when he attempted a dunk in the third quarter, as an example of the issues he observed.

Lakers Coach Supports LeBron James

LA Lakers head coach Darvin Ham was notably upset about the officiating, particularly in relation to LeBron James.

Ham received a technical foul in the third quarter when James drove to the basket and appeared to be hit in the face by Heat forward Thomas Bryant, according to Sports Illustrated.

Ham was seeking a foul call but was instead assessed for flopping. After the game, Ham emphasized the need for consistency and balance in officiating.

He highlighted the discrepancy in the number of free throws James received despite his frequent attacks on the rim and contact.

James, in agreement with his coach, expressed confusion about the officiating, pointing out that he frequently addresses officials with respect to the plays but goes to the free-throw line only three or four times a game, sometimes even less.

LeBron James Emphasizes His Dominance Regardless of Miami Stint

LeBron James has reiterated his belief that he would still be a dominant player even if he had never played for the Miami Heat, where he won two NBA titles, the NY Post noted.

In a recent social media post, James quoted a statement discussing his comments and emphasized his unshakable self-confidence, stating, "You damn right I would still be! I'm CHOSEN! Ain't nothing changing that! Maybe less [rings] but DOMINANT from start to finish," concluding the post with a crown emoji.

During his four years with the Heat, James achieved remarkable success, winning two NBA Finals and earning two NBA MVP awards.

He also played a pivotal role in ushering in the era of superteams by teaming up with Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade.

Now, in the later stages of his career, LeBron James is determined to lead the Lakers to another championship, with their last victory occurring in the COVID bubble in 2020.

In the current season, James is averaging 25.3 points per game with impressive shooting percentages.

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Written by: Bert Hoover

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