Might 7, 2026; Oklahoma Metropolis, Oklahoma, USA; Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick yells to his staff throughout a play in opposition to the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder within the first half throughout sport two of the second spherical of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Paycom Middle. Obligatory Credit score: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Pictures Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick did not mince phrases in regards to the officiating after a 125-107 setback to the Oklahoma Thunder on Thursday in Game 2 of the Western Convention semifinals.
Redick took concern with star LeBron James enduring what he feels to be constant bodily play from the Thunder. What’s worse within the eyes of Redick is that James — a four-time NBA MVP and 22-time All-Star — solely has 5 free-throw makes an attempt in the course of the first two contests of the best-of-seven collection.
“LeBron has the worst whistle of any star participant I’ve ever seen,” Redick mentioned. “I imply, I have been with him two years now. The smaller guys, as a result of they are often theatric, they sometimes draw extra fouls, and the larger gamers which are constructed like LeBron, it is laborious for them. He will get clobbered. He acquired clobbered once more tonight a bunch.
“And that is not like a brand new factor. That is not particular to this crew or this collection. He will get fouled rather a lot and it would not (get known as). The man will get hit on the top greater than any participant I’ve seen on drives, and it hardly ever will get known as.”
Whereas James opted to play it cool together with his post-game feedback — “We’re down 2-0” was all he mentioned when requested in regards to the officiating — Lakers guard Austin Reaves confronted crew chief John Goble at heart courtroom after the sport.
Reaves took concern with Goble for shedding his cool throughout a jump-ball state of affairs with 5:53 remaining within the fourth quarter.
“I felt like I used to be respectful to all of all of them evening. I imply, there’s one million instances up to now I’ve mentioned approach worse stuff,” Reaves mentioned. “And once we had been doing the entire bounce ball when (the Thunder gamers) had been switching spots, I needed to get on the opposite facet as a result of they’d a man on the opposite facet, was simply making an attempt to maintain a bonus. And (Goble) circled and simply yelled in my face. I simply thought it was disrespectful.
“On the finish of the day, we’re grown males. And I simply did not really feel like he wanted to yell in my face like that. I informed him that. I wasn’t disrespectful. I informed him if I did that to him first, I’d have gotten a tech. I really feel like the one motive I did not get a tech is as a result of he knew he was within the flawed. So, yeah, I simply felt disrespected.”
Reaves scored 31 factors and James added 23 on Thursday for the Lakers, who will host Game 3 on Saturday.
–Discipline Degree Media
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