LeBron James has been in the NBA for more than two decades, and the Los Angeles Lakers superstar has delivered some great performances on his birthday over the years.
However, James’ 39th birthday didn’t go exactly as planned, as the Lakers suffered a two-point defeat at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
On top of that, James seemingly tied the game for the Lakers during the dying seconds of the game with a three-point shot, but it was ruled as a two-pointer.
This LeBron James bucket was called a two after further review 😲 pic.twitter.com/6fudDbdlL0
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 31, 2023
The controversial decision turned the tide of the game in favor of the Timberwolves as they went on to register a 108-106 win over James and the Lakers.
After the game, James shared his reaction to the call by the referees on his Instagram account, as revealed via Hoop Central on Twitter.
“So WTF. Helluva Happy Bday gift to me,” James wrote.
LeBron on IG. pic.twitter.com/FznmSlHveb
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) December 31, 2023
James didn’t hide his frustration about the call and sarcastically pointed out what an amazing birthday gift he received.
As for James’ performance in the matchup, he added 26 points, 3 rebounds, and 6 assists for the Lakers.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to help the Lakers win the game against the best team in the Western Conference this season.
Following the loss, the Lakers have now fallen to a 17-16 record as they also slipped to the ninth spot in the West.
Despite playing his 21st season in the NBA, James is averaging a solid 25.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game for the Lakers.
He is also shooting a solid 53.6% from the field and 40.9% from the three-point line.
NEXT:
Darvin Ham Gets Honest About Controversial Call Against Lakers
