LeBron James has spoken glowingly about Lonzo Ball this season, but he wouldn’t talk about what the two stars discussed Thursday night after the Cavaliers’ 121-112 win over the Lakers.
The two were seen speaking, while James covered his mouth, after a post-game embrace.
“None of y’all business,” James told reporters.
While Ball said that James “didn’t tell me anything.”
The talk fueled further speculation — and Twitter jokes aplenty — that James would bolt to the Lakers this offseason in free agency. Ball would seem more than happy to welcome James to Los Angeles.
“Watching him doesn’t do him justice,” Ball said after James’ 25-point, 12-assist, 12-rebound performance. “He has that size, that speed. I’d say he’s the best player in the world right now.”
James’ free-agency will be the dominant topic of discussion this offseason after reported friction with Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert makes it seem likely he would consider leaving Cleveland again. The Lakers and Rockets have been mentioned as possible landing spots for the 32-year-old four-time MVP.
“I see all the stupid noise that happens,” he said. “You know I can’t buy a home in L.A., I can’t live in L.A. It’s funny noise. But I don’t get involved in it. When I post things I don’t look at comments because I’m so far removed from the white noise and the noise doesn’t matter to me.”
But James is a fan of Ball’s, complimenting the way he’s handled all the attention thrown at him by his braggadocios father LaVar. And he is a fan of what the No. 2 pick does on the court, too.
“It’s always team,” James said when asked what he admires most about Ball, who had 13 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds.
“He passes the ball. Pushes the ball up the floor. Someone you want to play with. This is a team game. Everyone gets so caught up in this whole individual thing and it’s, the whole team game gets overlooked, but then, I’m not going to go there.”