NBA insider trolls LeBron James with 2016 Draymond Green suspension reference after Lakers superstar questions WNBA Finals officiating

NBA insider Brandon 'Scoop B' Robinson trolled LeBron James after the Lakers superstar criticized the officiating during Game 5 of the WNBA Finals between the New York Liberty and the Minnesota Lynx on Sunday. LeBron was among the first to voice his displeasure as officiating became a hot topic following the Liberty’s championship win.

The controversy arose after Lynx’s Alanna Smith was whistled for a foul on Breanna Stewart with 5.2 seconds left in regulation. LeBron shared his thoughts on the call, expressing disagreement with the decision and offering his critique of the officiating.

"I’m sorry, but that wasn’t a foul! Let the damn players dictate the outcome of a close battled tested game," the four-time NBA champion wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Brandon Robinson took issue with LeBron’s criticism of the officiating and pointedly referenced Draymond Green’s suspension during Game 5 of the 2016 NBA Finals, a series the Cleveland Cavaliers won in seven games under LeBron’s leadership.

"Yes it was! Draymond shouldn’t have been suspended in 2016, and we let Cleveland rock. Let the Liberty live," the NBA insider wrote.

During Game 4 of the 2016 NBA Finals, Draymond Green and LeBron James got into a physical altercation near midcourt, where Green made contact with James' groin as he stood up. As a result, the NBA retroactively assessed Green a flagrant-1 foul, leading to his suspension from Game 5 while James was assessed a technical foul.

The Warriors went on to lose Game 5 at home to the Cavaliers as LeBron led his team to a historic NBA title, overcoming a 3-1 series deficit.

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Fans react to LeBron James questioning officials

Social media was abuzz after LeBron James tweeted his thoughts questioning the officiating during WNBA Finals Game 5. While some fans criticized the Lakers superstar for speaking out, others supported his assessment of the situation.

Liberty beat reporter Alford Corriette shared a clip of LeBron James visibly frustrated after officials had missed an obvious foul by Jayson Tatum on him during the 2022-23 season.

"This is what happened when the referees let the players dictate the outcome of a close battle tested game by the way."

"The players did dictate it. One of them fouled another. Hope this helps," wrote another user.

"Atrocious call. Shame!," commented another fan.

"Absolutely! It's frustrating when officiating decisions overshadow the players' efforts in a hard-fought game. Letting the athletes decide the outcome not only honors their skills but also keeps the integrity of the game intact. In high-stakes moments, it's all about the players and their performance on the court!," said another.

Meanwhile, after the foul was called, Breanna Stewart confidently made both free throws, tying the game and sending it into overtime, which eventually paved the way for New York to win the championship.