LeBron James is an extremely strong player, and that strength makes his game entirely physical. While many players complain that he spends too much time on the floor, others praise him because he knows how to protect the ball and turn himself into a powerful force for his team.
It is also said that he absorbs a large number of fouls from opponents, something that ends up affecting his performance on the court. For some observers, however, those flagrant fouls committed against him are either not seen or, if they are noticed, are simply not called by the referees.
An injustice experienced by LeBron James is noticed by an NBA legend
As mentioned, for some former players who are now considered NBA legends, LeBron James does not receive the same level of attention from officials when it comes to calling fouls committed against him during games.
Stu Lantz addressed the issue by stating that James is not awarded the number of fouls that should be assessed to his opponents.
You should not be penalized for being bigger and stronger than the opposition.
For Lantz, the immense strength possessed by the King leads referees to assume that, because of his size and power, he should naturally play through contact. As a result, they often refrain from making calls when opponents play that way against him on the court.
According to the former NBA player, this should not be the case. One thing is for a player to be physically dominant and capable of matching up with rivals, and another entirely is to allow excessive contact without officials stepping in.
Lantz believes that when LeBron initiates physical contact with opponents, fouls are quickly called against him. However, when rivals deliver similar contact, there is frequently no whistle. This suggests, in his view, that referees apply two different standards, one that works against James and another that benefits others.
Strong performance by LeBron James against the Chicago Bulls
This past Monday, January 26, 2026, the Lakers faced the Chicago Bulls. In that game, James logged 33 minutes and scored 24 points with solid efficiency, converting nine of his 19 shot attempts and going one of four from three point range.
He also contributed five rebounds, three assists, and one steal. Despite being 41 years old, LeBron continues to be a key piece for his lineup in every game he plays.
James was active both on and off the court. He encouraged his teammates, pushing them to maintain intensity throughout the game. For LeBron, rumors placing him in a potential trade away from the Lakers are of little concern, as he continues to make it clear that he remains fully committed to his team.
