Kyrie Irving has issued a heartfelt response to LeBron James’ recent comments about him.
Earlier this week, James said, “I’m so f*cking mad that I’m not his running mate anymore,” in reference to Irving on the Mind The Game podcast.
“Obviously, I’m in a different age, different place in my life. So is he. I think we both have been able to mature and really appreciate what we got a chance to accomplish,” Irving said.
“I think there were some things that got in the way of our relationship when I was a little bit younger. Now that I’m able to vocalize how I feel as a man, be comfortable in it, stand on my square, my beliefs, where I’m coming from, I feel like our relationship’s different because of that now.”
Interestingly, the Lakers attempted to appease James’ wishes of reuniting with Irving ahead of the trade deadline last season.
LA offered to trade a package including Russell Westbrook and two first-round picks to Brooklyn in exchange for Irving, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
But the Nets sent him to Dallas instead, and now James is stuck at home watching his former co-star make it all the way to The NBA Finals without him.
Although multiple reports are indicating that the Lakers are close to hiring JJ Redick as the franchises’ new head coach, he’s apparently not Anthony Davis’ preference.
Redick has been rumored to take over the role for weeks now, with others candidates like Pelicans assistant James Borrego also being considered.
“It has been suggested in some corners of the league that Lakers star big man Anthony Davis probably prefers for James Borrego to get the job over Redick,” Stein said in his substack. “Not only has Borrego been a head coach twice already in Orlando and Charlotte compared to Redick’s lack of head coaching experience, but he and Davis overlapped briefly during Borrego’s first stint with the Pelicans after Davis was drafted No. 1 overall in June 2012.”
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Beside knowing Borrego, Redick’s lack of experience in the coaching realm (having never been in an assistant and head coaching role) could be another reason AD is a little put off.
Davis isn’t afraid to speak out about the Lakers’ coaching staff, evident after he torched them when the Lakers lost to the Nuggets in Game 2 during the first round.
LeBron obviously has a strong connection to Redick, since the pair started a podcast together in recent months.
“In my opinion, the Lakers focus should probably be more so on Anthony Davis than LeBron at this point,” Paul told B/R late last month. “I think for him being so good for so long, people just think he controls the team. There’s no controlling of the team. And JJ is a friend. We respect JJ. I know LeBron and JJ have the podcast. I did JJ’s podcast. Me and JJ talk hoops all the time. He does know hoops. But just because they have a podcast, the Lakers have to make a decision for now and later.”
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