"Dillon Brooks would've been ejected, suspended" - Fans react to LeBron James' potentially malicious play on Aaron Gordon

LeBron James temporarily lost his cool in the second quarter of Game 4 between the LA Lakers and the Denver Nuggets on Monday. James got in a scuffle with Aaron Gordon, who received a forearm shot from "The King."

With around eight minutes left in the first half, Gordon inadvertently hit James on his face. The four-time MVP retaliated with a light push on the chest. Things got more heated when Gordon grabbed James' arm until the referees blew the whistle.

It didn't end there, as James shoved Gordon's throat as players and officials separated them. Both were called for techical fouls as the game went on. The Lakers ended up winning the second quarter, with a 15-point lead at the end of the first half.

Fans on social media reacted to LeBron James' forearm shove on Aaron Gordon. Some fans pointed out that James didn't receive a flagrant foul call, while others thought that it was an unnecessary response.

One fan even noted that if someone like Dillon Brooks did it, he would have been suspended by the NBA. The fan wrote:

"Dillon Brooks would've been ejected, suspended and fined for a play like this. But y'all ain't ready to hear that."

Here are other reactions to James' fracas with Gordon:

LeBron James was simply unstoppable in the first half, scoring 31 points, which was his best first-half performance in the playoffs. However, he was gassed in the second half, scoring seven points in the third quarter and just three in the final period.

Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets were simply too good in the second half, coming back from a 15-point deficit to take a 113-111 win to sweep the LA Lakers. Jokic finished with 30 points, 14 rebounds and 13 assists to break Wilt Chamberlain's record for most triple doubles in a single postseason with eight.

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LeBron James hints at possible retirement

LeBron James of the LA Lakers

One of LeBron James' best friends, Carmelo Anthony, just announced his retirement from the NBA. After getting swept by the Denver Nuggets, James might be thinking about his future, hinting at the possibility of ending his career in Year 20.

Here's the exchange between James and ESPN's Dave McMenamin:

"When you say you got to think about stuff, what thread should we be pulling on that?" McMenamin asked.

"If I want to continue to play," James responded.

McMenamin followed up with: "As in next year?"

"Yeah," James said.

"You would walk away?" McMenamin asked again.

"I got to think about it," James said.

For the first time in his career, James looked mortal against the Nuggets. He doesn't have the same explosiveness and his athleticism is no longer what it used to be. He has also has been injury-prone for the fourth season in five years but remains one of the best players in the league despite his age.