LeBron James wasted no time in shutting down a report suggesting he had grown frustrated with Anthony Davis before the Lakers’ blockbuster trade for Luka Doncic. After CBS Sports’ Bill Reiter claimed on air that LeBron had lost faith in AD, James fired back on social media with a blunt and direct response:
“You a fkn lie!!! “
James’ fiery reaction highlights how far off-base the report seems to be, especially given that multiple well-connected insiders, including ESPN’s Dave McMenamin and Brian Windhorst, have confirmed that LeBron had no prior knowledge of the Davis-Doncic trade.
If James wasn’t even informed that his longtime co-star was about to be moved, the idea that he had been orchestrating the deal behind the scenes due to frustration with AD doesn’t add up.
Reiter’s claim was based on supposed conversations within the Lakers organization a year ago, where he alleges that LeBron had started to doubt whether his partnership with Davis was still working. The CBS reporter speculated that James ultimately approved the trade, believing that Doncic gave him a better chance at winning a championship within his remaining window.
But there’s a fundamental flaw in that reasoning—LeBron did not approve this trade because he had no idea it was even happening. That fact alone completely undermines Reiter’s claim that the trade was a culmination of James’ growing frustration with AD.
James and Davis had been one of the most successful duos in the NBA since teaming up in 2019. They won a championship in 2020, made deep playoff runs, and consistently praised each other’s work ethic and leadership.
They also share the same agent, Rich Paul, and have been close friends off the court. While there were occasional on-court frustrations—natural for any duo playing at a high level for multiple years—there was never any real indication that LeBron wanted AD gone.
In fact, the shock of the trade was evident in James’ reaction. Reports from ESPN confirm that LeBron learned about the move while out to dinner with his family after the Lakers’ game against the Knicks. That moment alone refutes the idea that James was secretly pushing for the deal or had been fed up with Davis.
This is not the first time LeBron has had to call out false narratives about his role in roster decisions. He has long been labeled “LeGM,” with many believing he has control over Lakers transactions.
While he does hold influence—as any superstar of his caliber would—this trade proved that the front office is still making independent decisions. If James was as involved as some assume, he wouldn’t have been blindsided by the move.
Ultimately, James’ response to Reiter was swift, direct, and left no room for debate. There is no evidence that he had grown frustrated with Davis, and there is proof that he had zero involvement in the trade discussions. The Lakers made the move on their own, and now LeBron must adjust to life with a new co-star in Doncic. But one thing is clear—he will not let false reports go unchecked.
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