All Lakers

LeBron James Breaks Silence on Questionable Foul During Playoffs

Jason Fray|
Apr 30, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) reacts during the first half in game five of first round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Apr 30, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) reacts during the first half in game five of first round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images | Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

In this story:

Los Angeles Lakers

The Minnesota Timberwolves handily defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in the opening round of the NBA Playoffs, winning the series 4-1.

Minnesota dominated L.A. up front; the Lakers' lack of size ultimately led to the team's demise. The T'Wolves continually got second-chance shots off offensive rebounds, and it became a situation where Minnesota imposed its will on JJ Redick's team.

The series arguably turned in Game 4 in Minnesota. With the Timberwolves up 2-1 in the series, this became the pivotal game. A win for L.A. would create a 2-2 standing, with a de facto best-of-three situation to follow (with two of those games in Los Angeles). As it happened, Minnesota won the game, took a 3-1 lead back to L.A., and the Lakers effectively were cooked by that point.

Game 4 was marred in controversy on a very questionable foul call on LeBron James. The call on the floor had the ball off Anthony Edwards. The Lakers would've gotten the ball back down one point with less than ten seconds remaining in the contest.

Minnesota challenged the call, and it was deemed that James committed a foul. Edwards hit the two free throws, and ultimately, it was the difference in the game.

On the Mind the Game podcast with former NBA great Steve Nash, James finally opened up on the call. Nash and James agreed that the camera angle and the quality of the footage itself appeared to be a bit strange — and not something you'd regularly see during a basketball broadcast.

"There was a piece of camera work in the postseason of our game in Minnesota that I have never seen in my f*cking life. The strip on [Edwards], I've never seen that computer work in my life. Where the f*ck did that camera come from? It was like some forensic files type s*it. Oh my goodness."

Based on how the Lakers were thoroughly dominated by the Wolves, L.A. surely would love another crack at Minnesota in next year's postseason. With a full offseason to enhance the roster, the Lakers facing off versus the Wolves with an actual center could be a very intriguing seven-game series.

More Lakers news:  LA Set Up to Land Perfect Luka Doncic Co-Star

Lakers Could Target Rui Hachimura Replacement Amid Trade Rumors

Former Lakers Guard says LA Doesn't Need Austin Reaves

For more news and notes on the Los Angeles Lakers, visit Los Angeles Lakers on SI.

Published
Jason Fray
JASON FRAY

Jason Fray is a proud native of Los Angeles. After graduating from UCLA in 2011, he's written for a number of publications -- including Bleacher Report, FOX Sports, Saturday Down South, and New Arena. In his downtime, he enjoys writing scripts, going to shows, weekly pub trivia with the boys, trying the best hole-in-the-wall food spots around town, and traveling (22 countries & counting). 

Share on XFollow jasonfrayLA
Home/News