LeBron James’ on-court conversation with Lonzo Ball after the Cavaliers beat the Lakers last night quickly became a fascination.
With LeBron-to-the-Lakers rumors – fueled by Ball himself – swirling, did LeBron tip his plans for free agency?
Here’s what LeBron said after the game:
LeBron:I don’t see the reaction, because I don’t get involved in it. I don’t do it to get a reaction.
I do it because he’s said over and over since he was growing up and who he modeled his game after. And who was his favorite player? And it was me, and I was humbled by that. So me wishing him a happy birthday was kind of a salute back to him.
I see all the stupid noise that happens, and I can’t buy a place in L.A. I can’t live in L.A. It’s funny noise. But I don’t get involved in it, because when I post things, I don’t look at comments. I’m so far removed of the white noise and the noise doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter to me.
Were you mentoring Ball or giving him advice? LeBron:
Unfortunately for LeBron, a microphone picked up most of the conversation (hat tip: reddit user IT-3):
[protected-iframe id="4974442af60aa7c125897d607c56de91-15932946-6766474" info="https://streamable.com/s/whixj/iwjjzm” ]
LeBron, best I can tell:
LeBron was never going to say something controversial in front of all those cameras. He knows better, especially after attention drawn by his on-court conversation with Dwyane Wade a few years ago.
Unsurprisingly, LeBron’s words directly to Ball mirror what he told the media after the game. There’s no secret plot here – just someone who has been in the spotlight for years trying to help someone going through it now.