In a surprising move, LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers have taken the early season opportunity to express their concerns over the disparity in free-throw calls. While some may view this as grasping at straws, the Lakers seem determined to address the issue and make sure their concerns are heard by the league and referees.

The season is still in its early stages, with the Lakers having played just seven games. However, James and the team have wasted no time in highlighting their frustration with the lack of foul calls in their favor. Though the no-calls in question were not blatant, the Lakers believe that James, given his stature in the association, deserves more favorable treatment from the referees.

This move by the Lakers and James may be seen as a strategic positioning for the long haul of the season, aiming to address the issue early on so that it does not become a lingering concern later. While this kind of tactic is commonly used by teams during playoff series, it is quite uncommon to see it employed so early in the season, raising eyebrows among fans and analysts alike.

Looking at the statistics, the Lakers rank in the top six of the NBA in average free-throw attempts per game with 24.6. However, James himself sits at a lowly 23rd in the league when it comes to trips to the charity stripe. With James averaging just under six free throws per game, and Anthony Davis leading the team with just over six, the Lakers argue that their star player should be earning more trips to the line.

Critics argue that given the small sample size of only seven games, the Lakers' complaints may come across as premature and desperate. With over 70 games remaining in the regular season, it might seem unnecessary for the team to make such a strong statement at this early stage.

However, all eyes will be on the Lakers' upcoming game against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night. It will be intriguing to see if James receives a higher number of free throw attempts to appease his concerns. Just like teams that fire head coaches and look for a drastic change in their performance, the NBA may lean towards making slight adjustments in Houston to address James' frustrations.

While it remains to be seen how the league will respond, the Lakers have made their stance known early on in the season. Their concerns over free-throw disparity have ignited discussions among fans and analysts, raising questions about how this issue will be resolved moving forward.