Houston Rockets guard James Harden is averaging over 14 free-throw attempts per game this season. So it would seem that Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James — who is a freight train at nearly 260 pounds — should be able to draw his fair share of contact and get to the foul line at will.
But LeBron is averaging just 5.6 free-throw attempts per game — two fewer attempts than last season — and his Lakers teammates are puzzled as to why James does not seem to get foul calls.
Lakers wing Danny Green said that James should get at least 8-10 free throws per game, via Tania Ganguli of the Los Angeles Times:
“He should [get] at least get eight to 10 free throws a game,” Danny Green said. “No doubt about it, how he attacks the rim, attacks the basket. It’s a physical game, and obviously he doesn’t flop. So it’s hard for refs to see and hard to referee him.”
LeBron scored 30 points on Saturday night in a win over the Memphis Grizzlies, but he did not get to the foul line once, a trend that continues to puzzle Lakers head coach Frank Vogel.
James himself suggested that the lack of whistles will not prohibit him from getting to the basket, but he also acknowledged how important it can be in allowing the Lakers to set up their defense:
“No matter what, I got to continue to go, but being able to get to the free-throw line is something that allows our defense to get in good position. It sets our defense. It slows the game down at times. It gives us a good rhythm. It relaxes me as well. So, I know I’m getting hit, but at the end of the day I just got to keep going.”
LeBron has lobbied for more whistles in the past, notably during his second stint in Cleveland. Still, his inability to draw fouls has not deterred the Lakers from getting off to the hottest start in the NBA.
The Lakers improved to 14-2 after the win in Memphis, and they have the best record in the league.
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