NBA fans on the internet often accuse LeBron James of being a compulsive liar. Countless memes and videos purport to show the Los Angeles Lakers star stretching the truth during interviews with the media.
Following the Lakers’ 118-124 win over the Utah Jazz on Tuesday, James addressed the narrative that he’s a liar. He discussed Dalton Knecht‘s big night as a driver to make his point.
“Same s**t I said last year,” James said. “Everybody on the internet calls me a liar all the time, so, what am I now? I’ve been saying it. I watched him a lot. I watched Tennessee a lot. I didn’t think he would fall to us. I thought it would be impossible. I have no idea how that happened. I’m grateful and very happy that he’s here.”
It’s funny to see James address a viral rumor about himself in such a light-hearted manner. He often cuts an intense figure during news conferences, primarily due to his competitive nature. However, he sees some of the jokes being made at his expense.
Using Knecht’s big game to address those rumors was also genius. It guaranteed that his praise for the Lakers rookie would reach far and wide. That way, James could ensure his new teammate received his deserved acclaim while showing a lighter side to his personality.
Knecht enjoyed a monster showing for the Lakers. He ended the night with 37 points on 12-of-16 shooting from the field, knocking down 75 percent of his 3-point attempts. His performance was the culmination of an impressive stretch of basketball for JJ Redick’s team.
Still, seeing how the internet responds to James’ latest statement will be interesting. After all, NBA fans can be relentless in making jokes. Nevertheless, if Knecht continues to outperform his draft position and the Lakers keep winning, it’s doubtful James will care too much.
