LeBron James Curses Out NBA Over Replay Center After Lakers’ Loss to Nuggets

Tim Capurso | Apr 23, 2024

LeBron James was not pleased with NBA officiating after the Lakers' loss to the Nuggets on Monday. / Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

An angry LeBron James took to the podium for his postgame press conference after the Los Angeles Lakers' loss to the Denver Nuggets in Game 2 of their first-round series in the NBA Playoffs on Monday night.

James, who hasn't been shy about voicing his displeasure with NBA officials this season, again aimed his ire at the league's officiating, cursing out the league over the replay center.

"I don’t understand what’s going on in the replay center, to be honest,” James said. “D-Lo clearly gets hit in the face on the drive. What the (expletive) do we have a replay center ... it doesn’t make sense. It makes no sense. It bothers me.”

"DLo clearly gets hit in the face on the drive. What the f*ck do we have a replay center for?"

LeBron James on late-game officiating in Game 2 🗣️

(via @jovanbuha)pic.twitter.com/KMXRInrM30

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) April 23, 2024

James is referring to Lakers guard D'Angelo Russell's third quarter drive, during which he was seemingly hit in the face by Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. Porter, who was whistled for the foul but Denver challenged the call and it was overturned.

Russell also made his feelings known about the call, taking to his account on X, formerly Twitter, after the game.

That’s a foul we all saw it on national television.

— D'Angelo Russell (@Dloading) April 23, 2024

Facing a 2-0 hole, James and the Lakers will travel back to Los Angeles for Game 3 of the series, which tips off at 10 p.m. ET on Thursday.