LeBron James held court on Thursday night as the Cleveland Cavaliers hosted the Los Angeles Lakers. It was must-watch television following the numerous rumors surrounding LeBron’s reported interested in joining the Lakers next summer. Whether that still holds weight or not remains to be seen but he didn’t help his case for remaining in Cleveland with his postgame conversation with Los Angeles Lakers star rookie Lonzo Ball.
LEBRON JAMES LIFTS THE JERSEY TO TALK WITH LONZO BALL
LET THE SPECULATION BEGIN ?????? pic.twitter.com/NOQHMtkAc7
— Def Pen Hoops (@DefPenHoops) December 15, 2017
While James had openly expressed his sympathy for Ball, this type of lifted-jersey secret chat has previously been reserved for his close friends Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh and Chris Paul. Not a rookie on the team he’s been linked it. Following his brief moment with the eldest Ball child, LeBron was asked about what he said to Lonzo. As expected, LeBron played it off and did not reveal anything.
LeBron James won't share what he talked with Lonzo Ball about ?????
(via @clippittv) pic.twitter.com/vwvZXcGXns
— Def Pen Hoops (@DefPenHoops) December 15, 2017
But unfortunately for him, this conversation was not void of all microphones. It appears a Chinese broadcast of the game got the audio and one enterprising Reddit user by the name of IT-3 shared it.
After the conversation was heard by the masses, a conversation LeBron said he did not want to reveal, he made it pretty apparent that he wasn’t happy about the leaked audio. He slyly slipped in a jab while speaking about some things that should be kept private. His conversation with Lonzo appears to be one of those things.
Following comes from Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com.
LeBron James used the debate over whether All-Star captains’ picks for rosters should be made public to make it known he was not happy that a hot mic picked up what he said to Lonzo Ball after the Cavs’ win over the Lakers Thursday.
“Some things could be held private, like my conversation with Lonzo,” James said Saturday. “Everything doesn’t need to be said and people find out. There should be some type of privacy. So I’m OK with it.”
James, who is trying to take on some sort of mentorship role for the Lakers’ rookie Ball, covered his mouth as the two huddled near midcourt following the Cavs’ 121-112 win. Afterwards, James told the media to mind its own business and Ball demurred when asked what James said.
But a mic on the court recorded James saying “Find your zone and just stay (expletive) locked in.”
“The media is going to ask you what I told you right now,” James told Ball. “Tell them nothing. Just be aggressive every single day. It’s white noise to you. That’s all it is. Alright? Let’s go.”
So, apparently James didn’t like that.
