LeBron James Subs Himself Out, Leaves Just Four Teammates on the Court, and Couldn't Care Less

LeBron James illegally subbed himself out of the game against the Hawks on Saturday

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Complex Original

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There is a rule that all NBA players abide by regarding substitutions. You must wait until the official blows the whistle during a dead ball, and the official must beckon the player to signify their permission granted to enter the court from the scorer's table.

According to LeBron James, he's the exception to this rule. Well, for only for about minute or less.

During Saturday night's game against the Hawks, in the third quarter, the four-time MVP lost possession of the ball on an entry pass to where he was posting up on the right side. Visibly frustrated, he threw his hand up as if to say "I'm done with this for now. That's all." He then just walked off the court and sat down on the Cavaliers bench. No acknowledgement was deemed necessary by King James, because, err, he's LeBron. He doesn't need to wait on anyone to point and say "I'm in for you." 

And as for his four other teammates, they just had to fend for themselves down the opposite end of the court. That's until the ref stopped the following play and gave him a technical foul for not having all five players on the floor. 

LeBron would eventually apologize to his teammates for it. "I blew a gasket. You know what that mean?" James said after the game. "I apologized to my teammates for it."

It's good, and occasionally bad for the team, for LeBron to be king. 

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[via ESPN]

 

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