Los Angeles Lakers superstar small forward LeBron James admits he was a little pissed off when he first heard Golden State Warriors star Kevin Durant's comments about there being a toxic environment that surrounds him.
Kevin Durant told Bleacher Report that he understands why some superstars don't want to play with LeBron James because of all the attention which surrounds James and how the media covers his teams.
James, a four-time league MVP, says he and Durant talked over the phone and that Durant apologized for how the comments came off.
“I was a little pissed off when I first heard it, to be honest,” James told Rachel Nichols of ESPN, via Dave McMenamin of ESPN. “I didn't know where it stemmed from, and I was asked later on that night after our game and I didn't want to comment because I didn't see it, I didn't hear [it]. … I started ‘Uninterrupted' for a reason, and I know how sound bites can be chopped and diced and things of that nature, so I wanted to get the whole layout of what actually happened.
“Got a phone call from KD. He mentioned how he felt and how the story … how he felt the story took a twist. And as a man, I can't, I don't hold on to things — too long. I'm too happy in my life right now, and I don't hold on to anything that will take away from my happiness.”
Kevin Durant's comments created a lot of attention because the two-time Finals MVP can become an unrestricted free agent after this season ends if he declines his 2019-20 player option with the Warriors and has been linked to possibly joining LeBron James in Los Angeles.
James and KD are too close of friends for something like this to ruin their friendship. It's going to be interesting, though, to see if this impacts the 2019 free agency period.