LeBron James Opens up About Relationships With Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant

In a recent interview with ESPN, one of the National Basketball Association’s biggest stars was very candid about another set of stars and whether or not he gets along with them.

Lakers giant LeBron James joined the titular host of “The Pat McAfee Show” to talk about a slew of topics including the current player’s relationship with Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. 

Love by Another Name

The interview, which lasted for a whopping hour and change, covered a wide range of topics. 

However, James was very blunt when it came to whether or not he and Jordan were close.

Referencing a clip from the popular sports documentary “The Last Dance,” McAfee asks if James and Jordan are in a good spot.

“We don’t talk,” James tells McAfee. The host asks why not. “”Because I’m still playing. I’m still playing, I’m still focused on my craft right now.”

McAfee inquired whether or not the relationship can flourish when James is done in the NBA. James hopes to then refers to his relationship with the late Kobe Bryant.

James recalls their Olympic basketball dominations in 2008 and 2012.

“It was always competitive,” James says. “Until I became a Laker and he retired, that’s when our relationship became really, really good.”

“…When I passed him for the scoring record in Philly, he had a tweet out there like, ‘Keep on going.’ Like, ‘Keep transcending the game. Keep going,’ James adds. “And that [expletive] meant so much to me.”

All Things LeBron

The conversation also steered into a recent dust up James had with ESPN host Stephen A. Smith regarding the latter’s comments about the former’s son, Bronny, who joined the Lakers in 2024. 

McAfee also asks James about the infamous “The Decision” primetime moment that gripped the world in 2010. During the special, the future NBA star – then an unregistered free agent after seven seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers – made a choice of what team he’d be joining.

“‘The Decision’ [was] brought to me to be able to do something cool on TV… do it kind of college style,” James tells McAfee. The player famously entered the NBA draft after he graduated from high school in 2003.

“But also [we managed to] raise $2.5 million for a good cause,” James adds. Every dollar went to the Boys and Girls Club of America. Sponsors included University of Phoenix and Bing. Commercials featuring McDonald’s and Sprite aired as well. And Vitaminwater and Nike also donated.

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