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As ESPN's Dave McMenamin noted, NBA commissioner Adam Silver said that he wanted free-agent superstar LeBron James to announce where he will spend at least the 2026-27 season so that the league could "finish the schedule" for the upcoming campaign.
According to Andy Baskin of Cleveland sports radio station 92.3 The Fan, those comments may not have sat all that well with King James.
Adam Silver "irritated" LeBron James, camp about schedule comment?
"Here's what I was told about the whole LeBron situation [by a reliable source]," Baskin explained during the radio show he co-hosts. "Last week, LeBron's crew was probably ready to make an announcement, especially because they were in New York...and the world had their eyes on New York because of the World Cup as well. They were probably comfortable making an announcement as early as last week...and then, people were telling them what to do."
Some thought James would confirm the identity of his next team during the Fanatics Fest event held in New York City. However, James instead made it known that he would make his announcement "soon."
"Irritated was the word that I was told," Baskin continued. "Irritated by the commissioner pushing them" to announce James' next basketball home.
Of course, James famously completed stints with the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2003-10 and from 2014-18. In the spring of 2016, the future Hall of Famer guided the Cavs to the franchise's lone NBA championship.
Along with the Cavaliers, the Miami Heat and Philadelphia 76ers are "believed to be" the favorites to win the ongoing James sweepstakes. However, the Golden State Warriors allegedly could land the 41-year-old.
McMenamin mentioned that agent Rich Paul of Klutch Sports that he spoke privately with Silver after the commissioner made his comments about James. That conversation may not have stopped James from delaying his announcement.
LeBron James' "group" encouraging him to delay an announcement?
"It may not just be LeBron," Baskin added, "but it's more about LeBron's group together. So, the irritation got to the point, they were like, 'Well, you know what? We'll decide when LeBron is gonna tell everyone where he's going.' So they decided to hold back on making their next decision, their next move, on where LeBron wants to play."
Paul said that "we're not going to be rushed" and that when James "makes the choice, he'll make it." Perhaps James has already made that choice and is simply making Silver sweat through the second half of July.
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