LeBron James has earned the nickname “King James” for his dominance on the basketball court. But on Tuesday night, it was his acting chops that drew attention. In a Game 2 clash against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Lakers star was back in the spotlight for a viral moment where fans think he turned to “Hollywood mode.”
The Lakers tied the series 1-1 after a 94-85 win, and James put up another stellar performance. However, what sparked online buzz wasn’t a dunk or assist but a dramatic fall during gameplay.
They caught LeBron in 4K 😢
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) April 23, 2025
(h/t @overtime) pic.twitter.com/7aLczlC2Bz
The clip shows LeBron lying on the floor after absorbing contact. While he did take a hit, fans were quick to notice how he exaggerated the moment, glancing at the referees while staying down, apparently to ensure they made the right call. Moments later, he got up unassisted with help from his teammates.
The game wasn’t short of controversy, either. James had a heated exchange with the referees over a no-call, and Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards didn’t miss his chance to joke around. Edwards humorously called for a technical foul on LeBron.
Fans React To LeBron James’ Show On The Court
Social media exploded after the video of LeBron’s fall started circulating. Many fans had jokes lined up and treated the incident like a scene from a movie.
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“Bro had to make sure ref seen,” one fan tweeted alongside a screenshot of James peeking toward the refs.
Bro had to make sure ref seen 😭 pic.twitter.com/FTt7fao7gE
— Big Rome 🚀 (@LONDO87540615) April 23, 2025
Another user wrote, “Taking flopping to another level hahaha.”
Taking flopping to another level hahaha 😂
— Betting ON Tap (@BettingONTap) April 23, 2025
Some didn’t hold back and called for LeBron to send the clip to a Hollywood agent.
“He should definitely submit this to his Hollywood agent for his acting reel,” a comment read.
He should definitely submit this to his Hollywood agent for his acting reel.
— Daniel Perez (@danielpereztwo) April 24, 2025
The nickname “LeFlopper” made a comeback too, with one user bluntly stating, “LeFlopper has no shame.”
LeFlopper has no shame
— KD’s Burner 🐐 (@KD_SZN7) April 23, 2025
Still, not everyone joined the roast. A few loyal fans came to James’ defense and claimed the move was tactical.
“This isn’t a flop by the way. This is what most athletes do to get a timeout without it being official. He deff did get hit in the face,” one supporter explained.
This isn’t a flop by the way. This is what most athletes do to get a timeout without it being official. He deff did get hit in the face
— Peeziey (@Peeziey) April 23, 2025
Regardless of the theatrics, James once again found a way to impact the game on the scoreboard. The four-time NBA title winner wrapped up the game with 21 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists.
