Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick opined on the referees missing a foul call on LeBron James and what the team had to overcome because of poor officiating. The officials ruled Paolo Banchero’s play on James a clean block, even though there was evident contact with James’ right arm when he tried to tie the game in the concluding seconds.
JJ Redick Expresses Frustration Over Missed Foul Call on LeBron James
The Lakers were riding an eight-game winning streak when they faced the Orlando Magic on March 21, 2026. The Magic seemed poised to end their losing streak after tough defeats at the hands of the Atlanta Hawks, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Charlotte Hornets, but it all came down to the final seconds and Luke Kennard’s 3-point shot with just 0.6 seconds on the clock to give his team a ninth straight win.
Orlando forward Paolo Banchero drew a foul on Austin Reaves and made his free throws, but Reaves bounced back with a layup. After some back-and-forth action, James gained possession of the ball, but Banchero blocked his shot out of bounds.
The officials ruled the block was clean, even though observers, including Redick, felt a foul should have been called on James’ arm during the play and called out the officiating. Redick also said the team had to overcome a lot, saying:
“Down 2 and we get LeBron open and the ball got initially hit. If LeBron still has possession of the ball and then gets fouled across the arm, that’s considered a foul and we lost that challenge. So again another night where the explanations get changed based on a win. We had to overcome a lot tonight and you know exactly what i’m talking about.”
Redick, who has consistently helped the Lakers improve both their defensive and offensive play, praised the team for overcoming obstacles and earning a well-deserved victory over the Magic, 105-104.
READ MORE: JJ Redick Jokes LeBron James’ ‘Foul Baiting’ Ruined Career-Best 13-for-14 Lakers Win
“We did a good job of just playing through stuff. Whether it was some cold shooting, some hot shooting from them for a little stretch there, getting down, playing on the road again, the external circumstances of whatever tonight was, and not allowing that to get us off our game, really, truly.”
Redick didn’t hold back from making a self-deprecating joke after James notched 30 points, grabbed 5 rebounds, and added 2 assists against the Houston Rockets. The coach praised the 41-year-old all-time leading scorer’s stamina, joking that it made him feel belittled since he is no longer in peak shape.
