Richard Jefferson calls LeBron James the “funniest flopper” in the NBA

A noticeable trend has emerged across the National Basketball Association (NBA) in recent years: elite players are becoming increasingly skilled at drawing fouls to generate efficient scoring opportunities. By forcing defenders into compromising positions and selling contact, stars routinely earn trips to the free-throw line—one of the most effective ways to boost scoring production in the modern game.

Among today’s top practitioners of this strategy are Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Dončić, both of whom have elevated foul-drawing into an art form. Gilgeous-Alexander led the league in free-throw attempts last season, while Dončić frequently manipulates defenders using pace changes, body control, and deceptive footwork to secure calls. Their approach reflects a broader league-wide shift toward efficiency, analytics, and maximizing every possession.

Even LeBron James, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer and one of the most physically dominant players in basketball history, has long used his combination of strength and savvy to earn trips to the line. Though known for his durability and power, LeBron has occasionally been labeled a “flopper” by fans and analysts who believe he sometimes exaggerates contact to influence officiating.

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One person who finds LeBron’s attempts especially amusing is his former Cleveland Cavaliers teammate Richard Jefferson. Speaking on his “Road Trippin” podcast, Jefferson offered a humorous take on LeBron’s occasional theatrics and the difficulty he has adjusting to the physicality he routinely faces.

NBA officiating is a joke…

Dillon Brooks is an idiot for getting in LeBron’s face, but LeBron got away with a clear foul on Brooks’ 3, then he flopped when Brooks got in his face, & flopped AGAIN on his 3 that ultimately sealed the W for the Lakers…

pic.twitter.com/932t4IoBkU

— Jon Root (@JonnyRoot_) December 15, 2025

“I know people complain about LeBron’s flopping. You know why LeBron is the funniest flopper? Because he doesn’t know how to flop. When he does it, it looks like, ‘Aw!’ He is so used to playing physical, gets his s**t beat out of him. So does Nikola Jokic the same way. So when he tries to show the official he is getting beat up, it looks unique,” Jefferson said.

Jefferson’s comments highlight a broader truth about LeBron’s career: despite his size and strength, the four-time NBA MVP often absorbs significant contact that goes unwhistled. Whereas many stars rely on deceptive tactics to initiate fouls, James has historically played through physicality—making the rare moments he attempts to “sell” a foul look unusually awkward.

This observation also extends to other physically imposing players like Nikola Jokić, a two-time MVP whose bruising style often masks the hits he takes in the paint. As Jefferson notes, both players are so accustomed to absorbing punishment that when they try to exaggerate contact for officials, it appears exaggerated or unnatural.

As the NBA continues evolving toward efficiency and foul-drawing strategies, players like Gilgeous-Alexander and Dončić have mastered the modern scoring formula. Meanwhile, physical powerhouses such as LeBron James and Nikola Jokić remain outliers—superstars whose rugged styles make their rare attempts at flopping unintentionally comedic. Jefferson’s playful criticism not only adds levity but also underscores how the league’s shifting dynamics impact the way players adapt, compete, and score in today’s NBA.

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