LeBron James called out the NBA’s review process after the referees missed a foul on his teammate in Monday’s game against the Denver Nuggets.
Despite leading by as many as 20 points, the Lakers lost to the reigning champions in Game 2 of their first round playoff series to fall to 0-2. Following the loss, James expressed his frustration with a play earlier in the game involving Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell. While the Lakers held a 10-point lead, Russell attacked the basket and went up for a layup. Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. tried to contest the shot and foul him. Replays of the action showed Porter’s arm swiping across Russell’s face as he tried blocking the shot.
The Nuggets chose to challenge the play. To the surprise of many, they won the challenge and had the call reversed despite the seemingly clear evidence to the contrary.
Michael Porter Jr. hit D’Angelo Russell in the face. MPJ was called for a foul which was then challenged.
Nuggets won the challenge.
Thought? 🤔pic.twitter.com/X01ufZXX4g
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) April 23, 2024
James questioned the purpose of the NBA’s Replay Center if such mistakes are still made.
“I don’t understand what’s going on in the Replay Center, to be honest,” James said during the post-game press conference. “I think I said it this year or last year or whatever. [Russell] clearly gets hit in the face on a drive. What the fuck do we have a Replay Center for if it’s gonna go — it doesn’t make sense to me. It makes no sense to me. It bothers me. Sorry I didn’t answer your question but that shit is like — and then I just saw what happened with the Sixers-Knicks game, too. What are we doing?”
James then shook his head as he dropped the microphone on the table in front of him and left the room.
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