Following Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals, LA Lakers head coach JJ Redick expressed that LeBron James has the worst whistle he has ever seen. It came after Lakers’ frustrations about the officiating against the OKC Thunder, which put them at a 0-2 hole in their series.
Ahead of Game 3, Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green refuted Redick’s claim, declaring his teammate Steph Curry as the player with the worst whistle in the NBA.
“JJ Redick says LeBron has the worst whistle of any star player he’s ever seen. Has he ever watched Steph Curry play?,” he said in The Draymond Green Show. “Is Steph Curry considered a star player? Got nothing but love for Bron, but if Steph Curry is a star player, which I think he is, no one gets a worse whistle than Steph Curry.”
Draymond Green May Have A Point
GettyDraymond Green may have a point.
In terms of numbers, Draymond Green could be right. Curry has shot significantly fewer free throws than LeBron James throughout their careers.
In 17 seasons, Curry has only averaged 4.3 free-throw attempts per game but has made 91.2 percent from them. Curry is considered to be the greatest free-throw shooter in NBA history.
Of course, Curry is more known for the 3-point marksmanship, not his attacking game, which potentially impacts his foul shots.
On the other hand, James played 24 seasons in the NBA and has averaged 7.4 free throws per game throughout his career, knocking down 73.7 percent of them.
Unlike Curry, James is a more physically imposing player and was explosive during his prime years.
JJ Redick Contrasts LeBron James Whistle And Smaller Players
GettyJJ Redick contrasts how bigger and smaller players get free throws.
In his Game 2 statement, JJ Redick contrasted the difference between how LeBron James gets whistles and how smaller players get them.
According to Redick, smaller players are more likely to get whistled because they are more theatrical with their actions.
“The smaller guys, because they can be theatric, they typically draw more fouls, and the bigger players that are built like LeBron, it’s hard for them,” Redick said before pointing out that James has received great physicality in his career.
“He gets clobbered. He got clobbered again tonight a bunch,” Redick added. That’s not like a new thing, that’s not specific to this crew or this series. He gets fouled a lot. The guy gets hit on the head more than any player I’ve seen on drives and it rarely gets called.”
The Lakers and James will look to steal one game in their second-round series against the OKC Thunder on Saturday, May 9.
Draymond Green Says A Team That Whines About Free Throws Would Not Topple OKC
GettyDraymond Green of the Golden State Warriors during a game against the Houston Rockets.
Draymond Green got real about free-throw whining, saying that once a team whines against the Thunder, it will only empower OKC.
“They’re just a well-oiled machine,” Green said in his podcast. “I see Phoenix complaining about the foul calls, while you’re complaining about the foul calls, they’re just going to get at you.”
The Thunder is currently unbeaten in the playoffs, sweeping the Phoenix Suns in the first round before winning the first two games of Round 2 against the Lakers.
Draymond Green Refutes JJ Redick’s LeBron James Claim With Steph Curry Declaration