How Did LeBron James Go 254 On-Court Minutes Without Being Called For A Foul?

LeBron's 254 Minutes
Miami Heat small forward LeBron James talks with referee Monty McCutchen during the second half at Game 1 of the NBA finals basketball series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Tuesday, June 12, 2012, in Oklahoma City. McCutchen wears a patch with the number 57 to honor referee Greg Willard, who has been diagnosed with cancer. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Miami Heat small forward LeBron James talks with referee Monty McCutchen during the second half at Game 1 of the NBA finals basketball series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Tuesday, June 12, 2012, in Oklahoma City. McCutchen wears a patch with the number 57 to honor referee Greg Willard, who has been diagnosed with cancer. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

100. 61. 755. 2,105. 56. 11. 4,256. Name your own. The relationship between a sport and its most transcendent numbers isn’t complicated, but it’s not a one-way affair, either.

LeBron James has a host of notable numbers to his credit, and may own many more by the time his career ends around 2040. But the number he bore some weeks ago, when he managed to play 254 minutes at the universe’s highest level of basketball without committing a single foul – of the offensive, defensive, spilled-Jager-bomb-party variety – should not be one of those numbers. Because if this number tells a story at all, it’s not an especially compelling one, nor one that says much good about the NBA circa now. This is one of those numbers, in short, that’s mostly bullshit.

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