Cameras Caught LeBron James Having On-Court Meltdown in Front of Darvin Ham vs. Nuggets

Kristen Wong | Apr 28, 2024

Screengrab on Twitter/ @Rachel_Nichols

The Los Angeles Lakers’ Game 4 win over the Denver Nuggets on Saturday night wasn’t without drama.

Usually, that drama takes the form of the Lakers blowing a double-digit lead as they have for the last three consecutive series matchups against the Nuggets. Yet Game 4 was different, not only because the Lakers held onto their lead for the win, but because Los Angeles star LeBron James had one of his biggest on-court blowups of the year.

Early in the fourth quarter with the Lakers up 15, James was visibly outraged after the Lakers chose not to challenge an out-of-bounds call. The officials ruled that James touched the ball last, though slow-motion replays revealed that the ball indeed went off of Nuggets’ Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.

James unsuccessfully pleaded with his coaches to challenge the call and was seen furiously shouting at the Lakers bench and even stomping on the court.

LeBron just before that last timeout... pic.twitter.com/08uXdXsJgL

— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) April 28, 2024

Fans were concerned, mostly for Lakers coach Darvin Ham’s job security. 

Darvin Ham get ready to learn Chinese buddy

— 🧊‎ ᅠ (@OGICEY) April 28, 2024

Darvin Ham cooked after this season 😂 Bron fed up lol

— Mell Biv DeVoe (@MelGoCrazy1) April 28, 2024

He’s losin it man pic.twitter.com/P2fPiJnObo

— mélomanic🍶 (@thetaylerholmes) April 28, 2024

That’s rare I can’t think of the last time Bron openly went off on his coach like that, if ever.

— NBA Shake (@ShakeZoula) April 28, 2024

Why he freaking out?? I thought he said it’s ONLY basketball.!

— Hayden Wheatley (@WheatleyHayden) April 28, 2024

The missed challenge opportunity ultimately proved inconsequential as the Lakers rolled to a 119-108 victory to avoid a first-round postseason exit. James recorded his 19th career 30-point game when facing elimination, the most all-time. Game 5 of the series is on Monday at Ball Arena.