LeBron James ticked one box he hadn’t done so in his 15 years in the league, getting ejected for the first time in his career after referee Kane Fitzgerald tossed him for excessive complaints on a no-call while driving against two Miami Heat defenders.
The Cavs superstar nabbed the ball from James Johnson and raced up court, drawing a bump against the latter when heading for a finish at the other end. Amid the no-call, James angrily walked toward Fitzgerald after slamming his right hand downward in frustration — causing his ejection late in the third quarter.
“I got fouled all the way up the court, from the time that I stripped him, all the way until I got to the rim,” said James, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. “I said what I had to say and then I moved on, but he decided I should get [ejected]. It is what it is. We got the win, and that’s what’s most important.”
LeBron James was given only one technical foul and but ejected from the game with 1:59 remaining in the third period, marking the first of his career in 1,082 NBA games.
The Cavs were leading by a whopping 23 points at the time. With the game under control, they ultimately managed a 108-97 win to keep their league-best nine-game winning streak alive.