Nothing riles up social media quite like a certifiable, elite-level flop. When it’s LeBron James doing the deed? Game over.
‘LeFlop’ took the internet by storm during and after Game 2 of the Lakers-Nuggets Western Conference Finals thanks to an Oscars-worthy performance by James. Had the game been in Los Angeles instead of Denver, James’s acting would surely have drawn a standing ovation from Jack Nicholson, Denzel Washington, Leonardo DiCaprio and the rest of the Hollywood A-listers sitting courtside.
If you’ve seen ‘LeFlop’ trending and you’re wondering what all of the hullabaloo is about, we’ve got you covered.
Here’s how it all went down.
‘LeFlop’, explained: LeBron James flop video
With just over 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter and the Lakers up 81-79, James met Nikola Jokic at the top of the key.
As Jokic looked to swing the ball, his extended arm came into contact with James who proceeded to crumple to the floor like he got floored by a Tyson Fury haymaker. Jokic was whistled for an offensive foul while James milked every ounce, dramatically holding the pause on the floor for maximum effect while both Jokic and the Denver crowd reacted in disbelief.
LeBron 😅 pic.twitter.com/SA4YVSdJTN
— NBACentral (@TheNBACentral) May 19, 2023
On the call, ESPN analyst Mark Jackson seemed to think there was enough illegal contact to warrant a foul and the Nuggets decided not to challenge.
Nikola Jokic flop video
An eye for an eye.
Much to the amusement of Vlade Divac, Raja Bell, Reggie Miller, and James Harden, moments later Jokic decided to get some payback with a little flopping of his own.
Not to be outdone and less than a minute later with the score now tied, Jokic took minimal contact from James which naturally sent the 285-pound 7-footer crashing into the ground.
Jokic gets LeBron back with a flop on the other end pic.twitter.com/8bpy3vrsH1
— hoops bot (@hoops_bot) May 19, 2023
Even James himself chuckled at this one.
LeBron James flopping in 2023 NBA Playoffs
Of course, this is not the first time this postseason The King has been involved in a flopping controversy.
In the second round against the Warriors, James and the entire Lakers team found themselves in the crosshairs of Warriors coach Steve Kerr after Game 4 who intimated that the Lakers were embellishing contact and selling fouls to get calls. Kerr referred to the Lakers as “a team that plays with a lot of gamesmanship,” adding that “they understand how to generate some calls.”
Golden State’s JaMychal Green took it a step further to post on Instagram about James’s flopping antics.
Naturally, James didn’t take too kindly and responded when asked about the issue.
“I just know that we, our coaching staff and us players, we don’t work on flopping… That’s not even a part of our game. Our game is to attack, attack the paint. We don’t mind physical contact. We actually like the contact and we don’t shy away from it, so we’re just not a team that goes out there looking for flopping opportunities.
“That’s just not us. It’s never been — it’s actually never been any team that I’ve played on in my 20 years, where we’ve been a flopping team. But it is what it is, they have their right to say what they want to say.”
MORE: See how LeBron James reacted to being asked about flopping
Best social media reactions to LeBron James flopping
As mentioned off the top, blending the topics ‘LeBron James’ and ‘flopping’ sets the stage for tremendous social content. Here is a quick run-through of some of our favorites from Lakers-Nuggets.
Why does ‘King’ James flop so much?
— Jeremy Sochan (@JeremySochan) May 19, 2023
Nuggets fan gave LeBron a towel after that flop 🤣💀 pic.twitter.com/XrYWlW7KU0
— Wu Tang is for the Children (@WUTangKids) May 19, 2023
LeBron James flop more than Ric Flair https://t.co/L9btdSy5eX pic.twitter.com/8IhIskdD2V
— Dedrian Colón (@Dedrian180_) May 19, 2023
LeBron Said : “Lakers don’t Flop”😂 pic.twitter.com/nt41sxGySI
— Better Than Vegas (@btvbets) May 19, 2023
LeFlop game 2 highlights🔥🔥pic.twitter.com/dNS9wD2cmf
— i like braves baseball (@Matt0ls0n) May 19, 2023
It’s time for Basketball-Reference to update the nickname section for LeBron James. Fair or not, ‘LeFlop’ is here to stay.
