LeBron missed a game-tying 3-pointer by about half the length of his big toe in the Lakers’ 108-106 loss to the Timberwolves on Saturday.

The shot was called a two-pointer for his toe being on the line, which was upheld after replay, and subsequently corroborated by the league’s last-two minute report.

Zoomed in, slowed down look at the replay of LeBron's go-ahead shot that was ruled a two instead of a three pic.twitter.com/ZlyEydSgjk

— AlexHoops (@AlexHoops_) December 31, 2023

“It’s obviously a 3,” James told reporters after the game. “My foot is behind the line.

You can see the space between the front of my foot and the 3-point line. You can clearly see a white, the wood on the floor is the space in between the front of my foot and the 3-point line. Stevie Wonder could see that, champ.”

I agreed with LeBron the first 10 times I watched the replay.

But the more I watch it, the more I think the officials got it right. From the L2M report:

“James’ (LAL) successful shot attempt was initially ruled a two-point shot by on-court referees,” the report reads.

“Upon review by the NBA Replay Center Official, there was not clear and conclusive visual evidence that the on-court ruling was incorrect, and therefore no basis to overturn that ruling.

When James raises his heels to jump for his shot, the replay shows his right foot rolling forward so that the toe of his shoe contacts the three-point line.

For a player’s shot to be scored a three-point field goal, the player may not touch the three-point line until after his shot is released.”