LeBron James, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, has had enough of social media negativity. The Lakers superstar announced Wednesday that he’s stepping away from his massive social media presence, which includes 159 million Instagram followers and 52.9 million followers on X (formerly Twitter). The announcement came after James faced criticism for claiming he had watched Dalton Knecht’s college games at Tennessee last season. “Everybody on the internet called me a liar all the time,” James said, referring to the skepticism he faced about scouting the Lakers’ rookie sensation before the draft.
The final straw appeared to be a repost from Kevin Durant’s manager, Rich Kleiman, who questioned why sports coverage couldn’t unite people the way sports itself does. “We can all acknowledge that sports is the last part of society that universally brings people together. So why can’t the coverage do the same?” Kleiman wrote on X.
James emphatically agreed, adding “Damn shame what it’s come to!” on his Instagram post. At 39 years old (turning 40 next month), James remains one of the NBA’s elite players despite being the league’s oldest active player. His Lakers are currently riding a six-game winning streak and sit at 10-4, suggesting that King James has plenty left in the tank even as he distances himself from social media drama.
The timing of James’s social media exit is particularly interesting given his recent vindication regarding Knecht. The rookie’s breakout performances, including his recent 37-point explosion against the Jazz, have proven that James’s eye for talent remains as sharp as ever. Still, the constant online skepticism appears to have worn thin on the four-time NBA champion and three-time Olympic gold medalist.
James ended his farewell post with his trademark flair, using a two-finger peace sign emoji and a crown emoji – a fitting reminder of his “King James” moniker. While it’s unclear how long this social media break will last, one thing’s certain: James is choosing to let his on-court performance do the talking while the Lakers continue their promising start to the season.
