Jonathon Simmons revealed this week that he had a major supporter this past summer in free agency: Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James.
Simmons, who was coming off an impressive season with the San Antonio Spurs, received a call from James early in free agency.
“We want you in Cleveland,” James said, according to Simmons.
A personal phone call from the best player on the planet isn’t something everybody receives. James was as impressed with Simmons as the rest of us, but it didn’t matter — Simmons chose to decline the offer, citing his role as a top reason.
“I said, ‘Naw, I want to play against you.’ I want to be able to play against elite guys, and in a couple of years down the line, be where they are,” Simmons continued. “He said, ‘I respect that.'”
Simmons is aiming to become one of the NBA’s premier wing players, and he’s off to a solid start with the Magic this season. He’s averaged 15 points in 25 minutes per game.
Simmons went undrafted in 2012, holding D-League stints with the Spurs before finally latching on with the club in 2015. He signed a three-year, $20 million deal with the Magic in July.
