'As bad as it gets': NBA refs clowned after missing obvious LeBron James travel
Utah Jazz forward Bojan Bogdanovic couldn’t believe what he was seeing.
The Croatian star was watching LeBron James dribble the ball up the floor for the Lakers when James just stopped dribbling.
The three-time NBA champion was looking very casual with the Lakers well in front, taking two steps before picking up his dribble again.
An incredulous Bogdanovic appealed for what should have been a pretty straightforward travelling violation, but the whistle was put away.
The play was quickly picked up on by fans, most of whom were greatly amused by James’ flagrant breaking of the rules.
This is not a travel...except everywhere else on earth! 😂😂 #LebronJames #LeBron #TakeNote #LALatUTA pic.twitter.com/kMHyuygPab
— Dave Fox (@Davefox2) December 5, 2019
LeBron wit da Big travel 🤣🤣🤣
— Max (@maxisnicee) December 5, 2019
I’m a #Lakers fan all day but Lebron’s unchecked travel violation was ridiculous. Somewhere up in heaven, Chick Hearn is yelling “whoa, that was a bunny hop in the pea patch!” #lebron #lebrontravel 💜💛 https://t.co/uBB0LQuDuR
— Nicole Childers (@mediagyrl) December 5, 2019
— Mike Beauvais (@MikeBeauvais) December 5, 2019
The Jazz are hopeful the NBA will either award them the win or order that the final 45:20 of Wednesday's game against the Lakers be replayed at a later date, sources told @espn_macmahon. https://t.co/gOTF5MZupa
— J.E. Skeets (@jeskeets) December 5, 2019
I'm sorry I just have to bring this back up again to reiterate how embarrassingly bad this is. On the heels of a three officials missing a made dunk, three officials looking at this play missing this is as bad as it gets for officials in back to back nights. https://t.co/gbZYIrJUyZ
— John Karalis 🇬🇷 (@RedsArmy_John) December 5, 2019
The King is nothing if not honest though, admitting to the gaffe to a fan shortly after half time.
“That was one of the worst ones I’ve ever done in my life,” he could be heard saying.
Looks like LeBron learned of his travel at halftime.
"That was one of the worst ones I've ever done in my life" 😂
(via @espn)pic.twitter.com/lELi0teRcC— The Crossover (@TheCrossover) December 5, 2019
Bucks dominate Pistons to win 13th straight game
Giannis Antetokounmpo has scored 35 points to guide NBA leaders Milwaukee Bucks to their 13th consecutive victory, 127-103 over Detroit Pistons.
Milwaukee had won their previous two games by 41 and 44 points and the Pistons had won their previous two by 34 and 33.
The game was turning contentious when NBA MVP Antetokounmpo was ready to go toe-to-toe with Blake Griffin during a second-quarter flare-up between the division rivals, but it wouldn't stay close for long.
"They're just a great defensive team and just play really physical," Antetokounmpo said.
"They want to be physical, they want to be dirty. They want you to get out of your game, and whenever you come in Detroit, you expect that."
The last time the Bucks (19-3) had a longer winning streak than this was when they won 16 in a row spanning the end of the 1972-73 season and the beginning of 1973-74.
WITH AAP