You apparently can add LeBron James himself to the list of people who never expected Kyrie Irving to call the Los Angeles Lakers star. Not to catch up, but to apologize for his attitude while the two were teammates in Cleveland.
Irving on Wednesday admitted he called James after the Boston Celtics’ last-second loss to the Orlando Magic because he now understands the frustrations that can come with being the leader of a team with young players. Irving was just 22 years old when James returned to the Cavaliers, and the now-26-year-old noted he “wasn’t seeing the big picture” at the time.
But how did James feel about receiving the phone call?
Kevin Love, another former teammate of James, just so happened to be with the 34-year-old when the phone rang, as the two reportedly were out to dinner in the Los Angeles area when James’ received the call.
“LeBron looked down at his phone and he showed us,” Love told The Athletic’s Joe Vardon. “He was like, ‘I wonder what he wants?’”
Vardon noted James returned the call “in private,” and didn’t disclose exactly what the conversation entailed. James probably was shocked to see Irving’s name pop up on his phone considering how his departure from the Cavs unfolded. But nonetheless, he reportedly appreciated the gesture.
“A source close to James declined to share what was said on the call,” Vardon writes, “but said LeBron was very appreciative that Irving called him. If their relationship was frayed, which the manner of their breakup in Cleveland says that it was, then some repairs are obviously underway.”
James admitted it was the “beginning of the end” once Irving was traded to the Celtics, while the guard reportedly had issues playing alongside James.
Although the two may have patched some things up, they will be all business come Feb. 7 when the C’s play host to the Lakers at TD Garden.
