'That Was Uncalled': LeBron James Breaks Silence on Adou Thiero’s Ejection

The same referee, Williams, was involved in multiple controversial calls throughout the night. Earlier in the game, Williams ejected DeAndre Ayton on a flagrant-2 foul. Rockets head coach Ime Udoka considered that call very soft. 

There is no official statement or post-game review from the NBA or the referee as of now. The Lakers’ head coach, JJ Redick, said he did not get a great explanation for the call from the officials. 

James’s frustration is obviously more than just one bad whistle in Houston. The Thiero ejection is not the only moment for this team. This growing frustration from the players and coaching staff has been building up all season.

A Pattern of Referee Drama for the Lakers

In December 2025, during a loss to the LA Clippers, multiple Lakers players received technical fouls for complaining about the calls on the floor. Later, head coach JJRedick criticized the referees for their lack of communication and their changing rules. 

Then, in January 2026, a clear missed late-game foul call against the Sacramento Kings sparked another public reaction from James on social media.

However, not always are such decisions given against the Lakers. Some are in their favor, too. Following a March 2026 game against the Orlando Magic, the NBA released a Last Two Minute report the day after the game. The report admitted the referees made three mistakes down the final stretch.

All three errors favored the Lakers. This led to a debate and raised concerns about officiating consistency across games.

Now, these issues have been entered into the playoffs. During Game 3 against Houston, Redick repeatedly complained about missed lane violations involving Alperen Sengun and Ayton. And then, James also didn’t shy away from calling out Thiero’s ejection.