“Happy Bday gift to me” – LeBron James takes CONTROVERSIAL refereeing call against Minnesota Timberwolves to Instagram

LeBron James was unhappy after a late call went against him against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

“Happy Bday gift to me” – LeBron James takes CONTROVERSIAL refereeing call against Minnesota Timberwolves to Instagram

LeBron James during the Minnesota Timberwolves' loss. (Image via LA Times)

LeBron James continued his lasting tradition of being utterly displeased with referee calls during the LA Lakers’ recent matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Facing a younger, more athletic team led by Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns, the Lakers kept Minnesota in distance throughout the night.

The occasion was further made special by the fact that LeBron James had suited up on what was his 39th birthday. The oldest player in the NBA responded with 26 points and 6 assists despite an overall average shooting night.

Things got interesting toward the final seconds of the game. With the Lakers trailing by 3 points, LeBron converted what initially seemed like a 3-pointer. The result would have been that the Lakers were tied heading into the final seconds of the game. However, the referee called it a 2-pointer instead, leading to a range of reactions from fans and LeBron himself.

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Later on Instagram, the 39-year-old posted a picture of his foot while taking the shot. It being behind the 3-point line meant that the Lakers had been robbed in the final seconds of the game, with LeBron posting the following:

Sooooooooooooooo!!!!! WTF. Helluva Happy Bday gift to me. ??‍♂️

Hence, while the Timberwolves will be delighted with how the game went, there is no doubt that a bad referee call played a huge role as well.

What is next for the LA Lakers?

The LA Lakers have had more than their fair share of ups and downs already. The season began with doubts over LeBron James’ ability to lead his side at the age of 39. James has obviously made critics eat their words and is currently going at an incredible rate.

Anthony Davis’ mixed form was the next big issue on the Lakers’ plate. With AD having signed a big-money extension recently, his inconsistency meant that the Lakers were simply never going to be close to their goals.

LeBron James was aghast after a controversial call against him. (Image via CBS)

Things seemed to work out, especially during the In-Season tournament, as LeBron seemingly was determined to win it for his team. However, since then, form has again taken a turn. They are 3-7 since the Cup Competition Final and need a quick change in fortunes to be closer to where they want to be.

The LA Lakers are currently 9th in the Western Conference with an overall record of 17-16.

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