LeBron James Rips Super Bowl Refs for Holding Call on Chiefs’ Final Drive

The Lakers forward has weighed in on other sports' controversies in the past.

The Chiefs' 38-35 win over the Eagles in Super Bowl LVII was mired in controversy. With 1:54 left and the game tied at 35, Philadelphia cornerback James Bradberry was whistled for a controversial holding penalty. The flag gave Kansas City an automatic first down, and the Chiefs parlayed the opportunity into a 27-yard field goal from kicker Harrison Butker to win it.

The circumstances of the ending drew reactions not only from the football world, but from around the world of sports. One such reaction came from Lakers forward LeBron James, the newly minted all-time leading scorer in the history of the NBA.

"Sorry I don't like that call! Not for the Super Bowl man!" James vented on Twitter with a facepalm emoji.

Sorry but I don’t like that call! Not for the Super Bowl man! 🤦🏾‍♂️

— LeBron James (@KingJames) February 13, 2023

Elaborating, James wrote, "His hand on his back had no effect on his route! This game was too damn good for that call to dictate the outcome at the end. Damn! By the way I have no horse in the race. Just my professional opinion."

His hand on his back had no effect on his route! This game was too damn good for that call to dictate the outcome at the end. Damn! By the way I have no horse in the race. Just my professional opinion

— LeBron James (@KingJames) February 13, 2023

It's not the first time James has weighed in on controversies in other sports. In Feb. 2020, James memorably took MLB commissioner Rob Manfred to task for his handling of the Astros' sign-stealing scandal.