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LeBron James blasts Alperen Sengun during Game 5 loss

Sandy Verma | May 1, 2026 10:24 AM CST

After 23 years in the league, LeBron James is probably the most expert player to call someone out.

Alperen Sengun should take note of that.

Lakers star LeBron James got into a heated conversation with Rockets forward Alperen Sengun in the middle of the fourth quarter Wednesday night. AP

With emotions running high and James trying to will his team back into the game, he was caught on camera blasting the Rockets forward.

While shooting free throws with the Lakers trailing 87-75 at the 5:38 mark of the fourth quarter, James was caught on camera questioning Sengun.

“Did you say soft a** call?,” James said, responding to Sengun after the forward appeared to call him out for dramatically over-selling a foul call.

After James responds to Sengun, James never gives him a chance to respond before absolutely going off on Sengun’s playing style.

While James finished with a game-high 25 points and 7 assists, Sengun and the Rockets got the last laugh with the 99-93 victory. NBAE via Getty Images

“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.”

The entire ‘conversation’ took about 20 seconds and never once did Sengun get a word in.

However, Sengun and the Rockets got the last laugh after beating the Lakers 99-93 Wednesday night and staving off elimination. The Lakers still lead 3-2, but the pressure continues to mount the longer this series goes.

Game 6 is Friday with tipoff set for 6:30 p.m. PT.