SUMMARY
- LeBron James elbowed Deni Avdija during the second quarter of the Lakers vs Wizards game.
- James was given a flagrant I call and Avdija was rewarded with two free throws.
LeBron James isn’t notorious for being a dirty player. The 4x NBA Champion has fallen victim to multiple dirty plays. However, The King often gets called out for slipping under the radar with travels or minor fouls. During a recent game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Washington Wizards, James got rewarded a Flagrant I call for elbowing Deni Avdija after a spin move in the paint.
Should be ejected and fined
— PseudonymousB.T.C. (@Apex_Intellect) April 4, 2024
Prob didn’t even call a travel 😂😂
— StoneWallStogie (@WallsOfSteel1) April 4, 2024
Fans were not pleased with what they had witnessed as one said, “Should be ejected and fined.” Another fan said, “Prob didn’t even call a travel.” James played a major role in the Lakers’ 125-120 victory against the Wizards. LA has been making a positive run lately and their hard work could pay off during the Play-In Tournament.
Deni Avdija experienced a migraine after getting elbowed by LeBron James
It wasn’t too long before the end of the second quarter when the incident occurred. The Lakers were in the lead by seven points with 3:12 minutes left to play. After LeBron James elbowed Avdija, the latter shot both rewarded free throws. He was removed from the game due to a migraine. The Wizards haven’t revealed if Avdija has experienced any other complications or a possible concussion.
Deni is having the best season of his career so far averaging 14.4 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game. The Wizards have not experienced much success this season despite acquiring Jordan Poole from the Golden State Warriors during the summer. Poole averages 16.9 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game as a starter. These numbers are worse than what he last averaged at the Bay Area.
Was LeBron James’ elbow to head grounds for an ejection?
As mentioned earlier, LeBron James isn’t someone who ever resorts to intentional dirty plays. The foul against Avdija wasn’t deliberate as he was doing a spin move to swerve past the Wizards forward. Unfortunately, the space between them was miscalculated by James, ultimately causing him to land an elbow on Avdija’s face. Many fans protested against the call given to James, however, what happened isn’t grounds for a Flagrant II, ejection, or a penalty.
LeBron James😅pic.twitter.com/AVBTB5yHrn
— Buzz Basket (@buzzbasket) April 4, 2024
Flagrant II fouls are usually rewarded to players who make unnecessary and excessive contact with the opposition. In other words, a brawl did not erupt after the play. However, James did make unnecessary contact with Avdija. Had this happened for the second time, resulting in a second Flagrant I call, James would have automatically been ejected from the game.
