LeBron Expresses Frustration With Referee’s Call During Review

The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the New Orleans Pelicans. Anthony Davis played against his former team for the first time since requesting a trade. He was welcomed with boos from the crowd, but scored 41 points. In the 114-110 win over the Pelicans LeBron James visited the ESPN broadcast table to express his opinion with a call that was reviewed.

The Lakers led the Pelicans 108-107 with 1:22 left in the final quarter, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was called for shooting foul on Brandon Ingram. Caldwell-Pope threw his hands up in disbelief at the whistle, and Lakers coach Frank Vogel prompted crew chief Zach Zarba to review the call.

LeBron approached ESPN NBA analyst Jeff Van Gundy courtside to discuss the call. According to the king, it was a bad call.

The call was upheld, and cost the Lakers their final timeout. Ingram got two free throws, and this put the Pelicans up by one. From that call, Los Angeles finished the game on a 6-1 run to win the game and improve their NBA-best record to 16-2.

Vogel was asked about the ruling after the game.

This season, the first in which a coach’s challenge has existed in the league, only 39% of called fouls on the floor on the court have been overturned or changed to a non-foul or a foul on the other team, as noted by ESPN Stats & Information.

This was the second time LeBron criticized the refs on the Lakers’ 4-0 road trip. After he attempted zero free throws despite having 27 field goal attempts in Memphis, LeBron challenged how he was being officiated and Vogel promised to contact the league.

LeBron can no longer hide his frustrations with the referees. He is the best player in the league, but these situations are really unfair. He doesn’t deserve this treatment.

The Lakers have an incredible game, and LeBron had the best start of the season. His team is 16-2 in the season, and that’s not something you underestimate. Regular season have 82 games, and the Lakers have a long way to go. Well, they have created a perfect base.