LA Clippers head coach Doc Rivers shot down rumors this week of him possibly leaving the franchise to join the Los Angeles Lakers. Rivers says he's staying with the Clippers as long as owner Steve Ballmer wants him there.

Was Rivers, though, privately thinking about going to the Lakers and told by people close to him to stay with the Clippers? It's possible.

Michael Wilbon of ESPN is reporting that Rivers was told to not take the Lakers job because of superstar small forward LeBron James and his refusal to be coached.

“There are people in Southern California right in that environment telling Doc, ‘You don’t want do this.' And one of those reasons is simply LeBron James. He’s been told by people – and I know this – LeBron doesn’t want to be coached.”

As we all know, LeBron James is the best player in the NBA and whoever his coach is will be in the hot seat pretty much all season if the team isn't winning games.

For example, during the 2014-15 season, the Cleveland Cavaliers went to the NBA Finals. However, James and head coach David Blatt were believed to have a rocky relationship because LeBron didn't really trust Blatt to run the team well.

Blatt was fired during the middle of the 2015-16 season and replaced by Tyronn Lue. The Cavs won the title that season.

Current Lakers coach Luke Walton is expected to get fired after this season since the Purple and Gold are going to miss the postseason.