LeBron James’ friend and 2 ex-NBA players make feelings clear on questionable call for Patrick Mahomes

LeBron James' friend and two ex-NBA players couldn't believe what NFL referees did in the third quarter of the Kansas City Chiefs versus Houston Texans duel on Saturday. An unnecessary roughness call in favor of Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs raised plenty of eyebrows not only in the NFL world but beyond the league.

On the Chiefs' second drive of the game, Will Anderson tried to sack Mahomes and made contact with the two-time NFL MVP. While doing so, Anderson's helmet touched Mahomes', but the quarterback tried to get more out of that situation, acting as if it was something bigger, with the referees falling for it and giving the Chiefs 15 yards on a roughing the passer penalty.

After podcaster Josh Reynolds shared the video, plenty of people reacted to it, including former LeBron James teammate turned NBA analyst Kendrick Perkins, James' friend "Cuff the Legend" and former NBA player Sam Dekker, who rejected that decision.

Perkins, Cuff and Dekker disagreed with that call

To make things worse, that wasn't the only questionable play in which the referees favored Mahomes and the Chiefs. Late in the third quarter, the quarterback decided to run and when he slid, two Texans defenders clashed with each other. Despite Mahomes exiting that play without a scratch, the officials threw a flag for unnecessary roughness.

The cherry on the top was that the Chiefs scored on that drive to extend the lead to 20-12.

Adam Silver makes blunt admission on NFL competing with NBA on Christmas Day

After the NFL doubled down on its decision to compete directly with the NBA on Christmas Day, even throwing Netflix into the mix, fans questioned if that was an ethical move by Roger Goodell. Adam Silver didn't have an issue with that and said that the competition helps the leagues.

"I think it's completely appropriate for them to compete in whatever fashion they think is best for their best interest. You're entitled to be annoyed. I just think we welcome the competition, I really believe that it's a rising tide for all sports, if you look at where major live sports now are on television, really any platform, because you're seeing it.

"Christmas Day, the competition in terms of the NFL was on Netflix, which only a year ago they were saying they weren't likely to go into the live sports business," Silver said.

Amid a complex moment for the association, seeing that another popular league is trying to take away one of their special days has been a source of concern for some fans.