Report: LeBron James Didn’t Bother to Call Kyrie Irving to Play for the Lakers

LeBron James has been a pitchman this offseason for the Los Angeles Lakers, who are looking to regain their status as championship contenders.

Though he has reportedly spoken to other stars to join him on the Lakers, there is one player he didn’t call — Kyrie Irving. According to The Athletic’s Joe Vardon, James never recruited Irving to come and play with him in L.A.:

“Kyrie Irving and LeBron James have spoken since the end of their respective seasons.

“But the conversation, while cordial and casual, sources said, never elevated to the level of LeBron trying to convince Kyrie to re-join him on the Lakers, because of one unmistakable truth: Irving was always headed to Brooklyn.”

Perhaps James already knew beforehand that Irving was set on signing with the Brooklyn Nets which is why the two never spoke about teaming up again. The former teammates won a championship together in 2016 with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Although their relationship wasn’t the best, it still resulted in some of the greatest moments in Cavaliers history.

Irving could have been the third superstar in the Lakers’ lineup next season, but James likely understood that his former protégé wanted to soar on his own in Brooklyn.