LeBron James is not a fan of the current set-up of the coach’s challenge rule. Posting on X during Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals between the Mavericks and Timberwolves, James said that it doesn’t make any sense to not allow coaches to challenge after two successful challenges early in the game. He then called for a review or a repurposing of the rule for the future.
“Have to change that challenge rule! No way you have 2 successful challenges and can’t anymore for the rest of the game! Makes ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE.”
Have to change that challenge rule! No way you have 2 successful challenges and can’t anymore for the rest of the game! Makes ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE
— LeBron James (@KingJames) May 23, 2024
The rule for the coach’s challenge was introduced in the 2019-20 NBA season, where it was implemented as a trial run. Having found great success with the rule, the NBA decided to make it an official rule going forward from the 2020-21 NBA season. The coach’s challenge was changed recently, going into the 2023-24 NBA season. Prior to this season, each team would get only one coach’s challenge for the entire game. And regardless of whether that challenge was successful or unsuccessful, that would be the only challenge teams could make.
Starting from the 2023-24 NBA season, the rule was changed drastically. The rule now states that each team will have a challenge to start the game. If their first challenge is successful, they are granted a second challenge that they can use later in the game. However, after the second challenge is successful, no third challenge is rewarded to the challenging teams. The NBA has limited each team to two challenges in regulation time, and award teams one challenge each if a game goes to overtime.
Furthermore, another issue with the rule is that it doesn’t allow coaches to use challenges in the last two minutes of the fourth quarter or any overtime, and only referees can call for a review in those periods. Considering that a lot of contentious calls are made during the final moments of a game, it would make sense to be able to use a review in those moments.
LeBron James brings up a very valid point about the coach’s challenge rule. Given how recently the rule was introduced, it would be good to consistently rethink it to better implement it. Perhaps the NBA will rethink the rule again in the offseason and take LeBron’s suggestion into consideration.
LeBron James Dropping Gems About Basketball Strategy On X
This was far from LeBron James’ only salient point on social media. Last night, during the final minutes of regulation of the Pacers-Celtics Eastern Conference Finals Game 1, James commented on the Pacers not fouling the Celtics, which led to Jaylen Brown tying the game and forcing an overtime where the Celtics won. James said that this was the exact reason why he would foul when up by three points every time.
“And y’all still wanna know why I would foul up 3 EVERY SINGLE TIME?”
And yall still wanna know why I would foul up 3 EVERY SINGLE TIME?? 🤦🏾♂️🤦🏾♂️🤦🏾♂️
— LeBron James (@KingJames) May 22, 2024
The King further explained his comments on an episode of his podcast with JJ Redick. He elaborated on why fouling in late-game situations when you lead by a few points and noted that some players and coaches are afraid to do it because of inexperience or the situation with being in the bonus and sending an opponent to the free-throw line.
“What are all the circumstances that are going on at this point? So you’re up three, is it under 24 seconds left in the game? Do we have a timeout? What are some of the cases?… If you’re gonna foul you have to foul on the downward dribble. It’s hard and sometimes a lot of guys are afraid to do it too. A lot of coaches are afraid to tell their team to foul when they’re up three because either one – they haven’t worked on it – or two – with our rules and things it gets tricky sometimes and you send a guy to the free throw line because you tried to foul him in the case. But I am fouling. I am fouling, I am fouling, I am fouling. Guys are too great, man. Guys are too great.”
🤷🏾♂️🤷🏾♂️🤷🏾♂️🤷🏾♂️ https://t.co/SQ5pSlXLgm
— LeBron James (@KingJames) May 22, 2024
Aside from strategy and rules of the NBA, James also recently showed support to WNBA star Caitlin Clark. Clark has had a tough start to her professional career, after a legendary stint in college basketball, but James said that he expects her to adapt well and become one of the greatest players in women’s basketball.
James has been hailed as one of the smartest basketball minds of all time, and his explanations for why certain things should be done always make sense. Whether players, teams, or the NBA, head his advice is always a toss-up, but no one can ever claim that LeBron is speaking from an uninformed position.
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