Basketball: LeBron James temporarily leaves social networks

Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James has left social media until further notice, after joining a publication targeting “negative” coverage of basketball by American media.

James, who has 212 million subscribers on Instagram and X, reposted a post from Rich Kleiman, longtime agent of NBA star Kevin Durant.

“With so much hatred and negativity in the world today, I don’t understand why many of the national sports media still think the best way to cover sports is (to do it) through negative angles,” wrote Kleiman on X, adding: “I personally find the whole thing a waste of time.”

“AMEN!!,” “King James” agreed, sharing Kleiman’s words. “And with that being said, I salute you all! I’m leaving social media for the moment. Everyone take care of yourselves,” he added in a second message.

The first player to score more than 40,000 points in the NBA, aged 39, has already stayed away from the platforms, usually, he explains, to concentrate on his sport.

But after his team’s victory against the Utah Jazz (124-118) on Tuesday, James expressed his irritation at the criticism of certain Internet users.

Lakers rookie Dalton Knecht then performed well by scoring 37 points, demonstrating a talent that James claims to have observed since his teammate’s university years.

“Everyone on the internet calls me a liar all the time (…) They say I lie about everything. So what am I here for? I was told that. I observed him. I watched a lot” of the University of Tennessee team that Knecht was a member of, James said.