Tensions between the Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets have been steadily rising, as is normally the case as playoff series go longer. This has been an extremely physical series, which is to be expected when the Rockets are involved, but there was an interesting moment captured during Game 5 between Lakers superstar LeBron James and Rockets All-Star Alperen Sengun.
As James was set to take a free throw, he was captured talking to Sengun who apparently felt the foul that James drew was a soft one. This did not sit well with the 41-year-old, who made his feelings clear that Sengun should be the last person complaining, via BallIsLife:
LeBron to Sengun:
Did you say soft a** call?
Nah, not you.
Anybody else on the roster,
But not you!
You don't say that.
You don't say that.
You don't say that.
You the only person out here
that ain't allowed to say that.
Soft a**
Yeah, alright. pic.twitter.com/rcKFaBFATR— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) April 30, 2026
Sengun is known as a physical player who lives in the paint, but that physicality has been matched by Lakers center Deandre Ayton throughout this series. There have been plenty of moments in which Sengun has drawn some questionable fouls or complained about not getting a call in his favor, so James calling him out on that makes sense.
Regardless of who is benefitting from soft calls, there will be a lot of pressure on both James and Sengun to deliver in this massive Game 6 on Friday night. The Lakers held a 3-0 lead, but now seem to be on the ropes as the momentum has completely flipped in the Rockets favor. With the series back in Houston, a big game from Sengun could force a Game 7 in which all the pressure will be on the Lakers as they look to avoid infamous history.
These kinds of situations are where James usually thrives the most and there is no doubt he will be ready to go for Game 6 and look to shut up Sengun or any other Rockets players who have a problem with the calls he is receiving.
LeBron James responds to Rockets claim of being the better team
James tends to not concern himself with things said in the media, especially during the postseason and that was certainly the case when the Lakers superstar was asked what he felt about Rockets players claiming that they are ‘obviously’ the better team in this playoff series.
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