LeBron James is weighing his options heading into free agency while Kevin Durant is all but certain to stick with the same team, but that apparently has not stopped LeBron from gauging his Western Conference rival’s interest in becoming teammates.
On ESPN’s “First Take” Thursday morning, Stephen A. Smith reported that LeBron reached out to Kevin Durant to see if he would be interested in joining James with the Los Angeles Lakers.
“I got two phone calls last night after hours, with folks telling me that LeBron James reached out to Kevin Durant … about coming to Los Angeles,” Smith said. “I don’t know what Kevin Durant’s response to him was, but I will tell you that what I did hear is behind the scenes Kevin Durant was like, ‘Why would I do that? As far as I’m concerned LeBron James is a big-time player and what have you, but the way I look at it is I should be perceived as the best in the world. I’m the reigning two-time champion. I’m the reigning two-time NBA Finals MVP. Why would I think about doing something like that?'”
If those are, indeed, Durant’s thoughts, Twitter seems to agree with him.
LeBron texting Durant about teaming up according to Stephen A Smith pic.twitter.com/Mv7myZyMBs
— Nick (@Boucher29N) June 28, 2018
If it's true and LeBron texted Durant about teaming up in LA, LeBron drops out of the GOAT argument permanently for me
— Chet Manley (@BroadStBully_MK) June 28, 2018
So LeBron texted Durant about joining him in LA
— Philip Douglas (@PhilipDouglas23) June 28, 2018
We’ve officially reached the stupid/silly stage of the LeBron free agency season. Yeah Stephen A. kinda sorta got it right with the Big 3 in Miami, but he also foolishly carried the NFL’s water 3 years ago with the Brady cell phone junk. Trust him at your own risk. https://t.co/tS9FoLmf2v
— Wario (@Fan_of_DET_313) June 28, 2018
If lebron really texted KD man . i would put him in the same category as KD . just weak . you just lost to the dude
— Rico X (@RicoXRMG) June 28, 2018
Lebron James reaching out to Kevin Durant
Best player in the NBA ? The GOAT ?
This dude is a loser
— Lets go to Roscoes (@TheLakeShOwKinG) June 28, 2018
LEBRON CHILL BRO https://t.co/X7tuywBtex
— Clayton Sullivan (@clayytonamore) June 28, 2018
We know NBA rumor season has a tendency to be out of control, and that’s why every little move LeBron makes on social media is causing a frenzy. Still, there’s virtually no chance Durant would leave Golden State to team up with James. He already has the best team in the NBA without LeBron, so he stands to gain nothing.
