LeBron James was caught on live TV berating his Los Angeles Lakers teammate Kentavious Caldwell-Pope on the sidelines. However, the interaction was a lot more innocent than it may have appeared at first glance.
Check out the clip again below:
KCP was having one of his worst games in a Lakers uniform during Game 2 against the Phoenix Suns. The sharpshooter went 0-for-4 from the field, finishing with a goose egg on the box score. Still, coach Frank Vogel has full trust in Caldwell-Pope, leaving him out there to play the fourth most minutes behind just James, Anthony Davis, and Dennis Schroder.
LeBron James could sense that his teammate's confidence was shot, especially after he passed up an open look he'd usually take on another night. The Lakers star made sure to give KCP an earful about it, in the best way possible, of course. James was trying to fire him up and encourage him to take the looks as they come.
KCP wasn't bashful about the interaction after the game, sharing multiple iterations of it on his Instagram story. He knows that LeBron was just out there trying to make him better and keep him accountable.
The Lakers star even responded to KCP's story, adding a simple 3-word caption on the heated moment caught on camera.
LeBron James has been doing this for a long time. In him, the Lakers have a leader who's always thinking of what's best for the team. LA needs both James and KCP locked and loaded for Game 3.