LEBRON James has had lots to say with the NBA taking a short Election Day break.
The Los Angeles Lakers star doubled down on his bold Miami Heat take — and then again made his feelings known about the officiating in the league.
2LeBron James went on a social media rant on Tuesday, doubling down on his criticism of officiating in the NBACredit: Getty2The Los Angeles Lakers star also reiterated he would be the same player even if he hadn’t played for the Miami Heat in the early 2010sCredit: Getty
James, 38, sent shockwaves across the NBA on Monday, claiming he would be the same player even if he had not teamed up with the Heat for a two-championship run in the early 2010s.
The comments came before the Lakers fell 108-107 to Miami with the loss leaving the 19-time All-Star livid about the inconsistent officiating in the NBA.
The following day, as the league paused for one day to encourage people to vote on Election Day, LeBron doubled down on his Heat claim as well as his criticism of the refs.
“I’m CHOSEN! Ain’t nothing changing that! Maybe less rings but DOMINANT from start to finish,” the Lakers star wrote about what would happen if he had never played in Miami.
Soon after, James responded to a report of the NBA finding all calls in the last minutes of the Lakers-Heat clash to be correct.
“The game isn’t won or lost in the last 2 mins!” the four-time NBA champion wrote.
“If you know the game things happen throughout the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and first 10 mins of 4th that has MAJOR impact on outcomes.”
The Lakers reportedly contacted the NBA regarding “numerous missed foul calls” in the loss to the Heat, per ESPN.
Los Angeles is said to have focused on decisions involving James.
After the clash, the 6-foot-9 forward said he received two different explanations when inquiring with the officiating crew about the no-call when Thomas Bryant made contact with his face on a missed dunk attempt late in the third quarter.
He also expressed frustration about the low number of free throws he attempts in games.
“I mean, I don’t know what to [say],” James said.
“I’m going over to them respectfully and telling them what’s going on in the plays and I consistently go to the line three or four times a game. Sometimes not even at all, which is weird.”
James attempted 5.7 shots from the charity stripe per game in the first seven games of the 2023-24 NBA season, a would-be lowest average of his career.
Meanwhile, First Take star Stephen A. Smith heavily disagreed with LeBron’s claim he would reach the same level of greatness without his four-year stint with the Heat.
“What the hell is wrong with you LeBron?” Stephen A. said on Tuesday.
Smith added: “Because he got to Miami and learned how to be a champion, he’s been unstoppable since.
James did say he loved his time in South Beach when he made the remarks in an interview with ESPN.
“But as far as my career, my career was going to be my career as far as individually, because I know how much I put into the game and I know how much I strived to be as great as I can be,” he continued.
“[But] as far as what I was able to learn here was second to none, that’s for sure.”