Bill Simmons, a longtime NBA voice and outspoken Celtics supporter, stirred the pot with a bold claim: the Los Angeles Lakers get more favorable calls than most teams. Speaking on The Zach Lowe Show ahead of the Lakers’ playoff clash with the Timberwolves, Simmons didn’t hold back.
“You’re playing the Lakers in a playoff series. You’re just not going to get as many calls as them. It’s just a fact,” he said, according to LeBron Wire.
Simmons also pointed to LeBron James as one of the league’s most challenging players to officiate.
While Simmons’ comments may reflect his well-known bias against the Lakers, the numbers do raise eyebrows. During the regular season, the Lakers ranked third in free throw attempts and second in makes. Still, stats alone don’t prove favoritism.
https://t.co/fcJvGouf03 #nba #LakeShow Bill Simmons recently stirred the pot by suggesting that the Los Angeles Lakers benefit from preferential officiating as they prepare to face the Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA playoffs. On 'The Zach Lowe Show', Simmons asserted that the…
— QWIKET NBA (@qwiket_nba) April 15, 2025
Analysts argue that the Lakers’ high free throw count has more to do with their offensive style than any officiating tilt. They consistently attack the rim, a strategy designed to force contact and draw fouls. Even with a career-low 4.7 free throw attempts per game, LeBron continues to attract defenders in the paint. Luka Doncic, known for his foul-drawing finesse, averaged 8.9 trips to the line as a Laker. Austin Reaves also chipped in, averaging 5.0 attempts per game.
Heading into a matchup with Minnesota’s towering frontcourt—featuring Rudy Gobert, Naz Reid, Jaden McDaniels, and Julius Randle—the Lakers’ aggressive, dribble-heavy offense seems intentional, according to reports.
But when hoops fans break down the tactics and numbers, it looks less like bias—and more like a calculated game plan.
ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith’s prediction: Redick’s coaching future with the Lakers
JJ Redick has quickly silenced the doubters. Since taking over as head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers in June, he’s guided the team to the third seed in the Western Conference—marking the first time since 2012 that the Lakers will host Game 1 of a best-of-seven playoff series.
JJ Reddick could have a Legendary Coaching Career! pic.twitter.com/Ouw5YCGY9H
— Lehookah Broncic (@LehookahBroncic) April 14, 2025
Despite having no prior professional coaching experience beyond his son’s youth team, Redick has built a culture rooted in discipline and effort. His sharp basketball mind and defensive focus have helped the Lakers notch key wins, even against more talented opponents. While the offense remains a work in progress, their defensive improvement is turning heads.
ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith is among those impressed. On NBA Countdown, he predicted that Redick will win an NBA title as a coach—if not this year, then soon.
“I wanna say something—I don’t consider it bold at all: J.J. Redick is going to win himself a championship one day as a coach in the near future,” Smith said. “I think he’s proven to be that exceptional and that locked in and that zeroed in. It might not be this year.”
According to Smith, with stars like LeBron James and Luka Doncic, the Lakers can challenge anyone—except, perhaps, the Oklahoma City Thunder.
READ: The Lakers’ 2019 Trade Blunder Still Haunts Them in 2025
I am a writer passionate about telling the stories behind the game of basketball. From the culture and personalities shaping the sport to the moments that define it, I explore basketball beyond the box score.
