Lakers News: LeBron James Calls Out Referee Under League Investigation

A longtime official is in hot water with the NBA.

NBA referee Eric Lewis, currently in the midst of his 19th season, is being investigated by the league for allegedly using a burner account to defend some of his more controversial calls and some of his fellow league officials, per an ESPN report.

Lewis had apparently been using an alternate Twitter handle, @CuttliffBlair, for these shenanigans.

There is an NBA rule in place that is ostensibly supposed to prohibit referees from publicly remarking on league officiating, as ESPN notes. Assuming Lewis has been found to be in violation of this policy in the form of this Twitter account, the league could dole out some form of penalization.

His last gig was officiating Game 1 of your Los Angeles Lakers' Western Conference Finals bout against the Denver Nuggets, an LA loss.

Lewis also worked the game with perhaps the most infamous non-call of the Lakers' entire season. Boston Celtics All-NBA forward Jayson Tatum fouled LA All-NBA small forward LeBron James' left arm in the final seconds of a January 28th matchup, with the game knotted up at 105-105. When no foul was called, regulation expired, and the Celtics went on to win 125-121 in overtime.

James took to Twitter yesterday, aghast at the news.

This Eric Lewis 💩 true??? 🤨

— LeBron James (@KingJames) May 27, 2023

Ultimately, in the grand scheme of LA's season, that particular loss didn't make much of a difference. If anything, it helped the Lakers in a backwards way, as the team finished the season with a 43-39 record and the seventh seed in the West, just a game shy of the sixth-seeded Golden State Warriors. A sixth seed would have given LA a first round matchup against the Sacramento Kings, a healthier opponent than the Lakers' ultimate first round foes, the second-seeded Memphis Grizzlies, whom Los Angeles upset in six games.

Are you following us on Twitter, Facebook, or YouTube yet? Join the conversation as we discuss the latest Lakers news and rumors with fans like you!