Kevin Love on relationship with LeBron James: ‘We’re not best friends’

LeBron James recently posted a photo on Instagram that showed him hanging out with several Cleveland Cavaliers teammates and a caption that read, “Clique up!” Kevin Love was not among those in attendance.

Of course, people who crave drama took the liberty of drawing the conclusion that Love is not part of LeBron’s “clique” since he wasn’t in the photo. During an interview with ESPN’s “Mike and Mike in the Morning” show on Monday, Love basically admitted those people aren’t wrong.

“My… it’s fine. It’s… it’s… You know, we’re not best friends,” Love said when asked about his relationship with LeBron, as transcribed by Deadspin’s Tom Ley. “We’re not hanging out every day, but we see each other every day whether at the practice facility, whether on the road or going to a game. I think our relationship is also evolving. I could say the same with each and every coach, coach Blatt, and each and every player on the team. That’s part of the NBA.

“As I’ve said all along, as long it’s for the greater good then it’s fine. I’m sure that, you know, he’s going to have me in the next picture. We’ll see.”

That was a rather long-winded response to a question that many would label meaningless. Love could have just said “of course we’re friends” and put an end to any speculation.

But if he said that, he would have been lying. We’re not saying LeBron and Love are beefing by any means, but remember that tweet LeBron sent earlier this season that he admitted was about Love? We all know they’re not going to be riding a tandem bicycle together any time soon, regardless of how they feel about each other as teammates.

You know what’s more important than Love missing the photo? Kendrick Perkins made it! His old teammates used to always exclude him. Good for you, Perk.