It’s not often fans see LeBron James get posterized on a dunk, but it happened Tuesday night in the Los Angeles Lakers’ season opener.
James raced back to defend against the Denver Nuggets’ Jamal Murray on a fast break in the third quarter. But Murray threw a perfect lob to Aaron Gordon, who dunked hard over James.
Gordon got every bit of the dunk.
MURRAY TO GORDON ON THE LOB 🤯#KiaTipOff23 | Live on TNT pic.twitter.com/iYCNQuMIts
— NBA (@NBA) October 25, 2023
Showing incredible court awareness, James, who had just turned toward Gordon a split second before his dunk, immediately began motioning toward an official.
It wasn’t clear what James meant to say, and play continued. But a replay showed that Gordon had placed his right hand on the rim before the dunk. That is a rules violation, and the dunk should have been waved off.
Aaron Gordon grabbed the rim before the dunk. 👀 pic.twitter.com/GY13QsEHMl
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) October 25, 2023
The dunk had no bearing on the final score, with Denver winning, 119-107. But it’s not often you get “LeBron James,” “monster dunk,” and “illegal play” all in the same sequence, which left fans buzzing on social media.
Lakers vs refs once again
— 𝐆𝐄𝐄𝐙𝐘✎ツ (@YoungPiccasso) October 25, 2023
prime lebron is stopping that
— Gir (@UnderFreeOrder) October 25, 2023
Even if it wasn’t counted doesn’t change the outcome of the game it would of been a win for the nuggets either way 107-117 no matter what nuggets were still in control of this game
— Kyle Evans (@JustinE87296921) October 25, 2023
Not sure how they missed this one.
— FantasyMagic (@jamesabaileyjr) October 25, 2023
He barely touched it he didn’t use it to go up
— Rayshard❼ ( Jett Black SZN👑 ) (@Rayshard07) October 25, 2023
Aaron Gordon should be a Dunk Champion.
— Depressed New York Fan (@JudgeEnjoyer) October 25, 2023
[NBA; Photo Credit: NBA on TNT]
