As the Nuggets celebrate their first NBA title, LeBron James has still been relevant, at least to Denver coach Michael Malone.
In a Wednesday appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, Malone appeared to poke fun at the Lakers’ star when he attempted to depict James’s consideration to retire from the NBA after the Nuggets’ sweep of the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals.
“Speaking of the Lakers, I just want you guys to know this is breaking news—I’m thinking about retiring. Only kidding, only kidding,” Malone said on the show.
On Friday, James appeared to address Malone’s comments in an Instagram post, telling his former coach that “I hear I’m on your mind” and insinuating that franchise enjoy the celebratory occasion for now.
“In Europe for the last past few weeks minding my business and I hear I’m on your mind that much huh??? I mean I guess I see why. 🤷🏾♂️ But Wave the flag on these lames!! Please make being player cool again cause the lame machine is at an all-time high. Enjoy your light but just know I’m the SUN. I stay on forever! 😉🫡🙏🏾👑,” James wrote in his post.
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James and Malone’s relationship stems back to James’s first stint with the Cavaliers from 2003 to ’10. Malone served as an assistant coach in Cleveland from ’05 to ’10, helping the franchise earn its first NBA Finals appearance in ‘07 as well as five back-to-back playoff appearances.
But throughout the Lakers-Nuggets’ series this postseason, Malone voiced his frustration surrounding the amount of coverage Los Angeles received despite losing to Denver.
"All everybody talked about was the Lakers," Malone said following the Nuggets’ game 2 win against the Lakers. “Let's be honest, that was a national narrative: The Lakers were fine. They’re down 1-0 but they figured something out. No one talked about that Nikola [Jokic] just had a historic performance. … The narrative was about the Lakers and their adjustments. So you put that in your pipe, you smoke it, you come back and you know what, we're going to go up 2-0.”
“The national narrative [after Game 1] was that the Lakers were fine. … No one talked about Nikola just had a historic performance. … The narrative wasn’t about the Nuggets.”
— NBA TV (@NBATV) May 19, 2023
- Nuggets HC Michael Malone pic.twitter.com/zUSjByjZMf
Malone also wore a shirt that displayed part of his comment during the team’s recent championship parade to commemorate the moment.
Confirmed: Parade ready 😤 pic.twitter.com/Iho6GBFSiu
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) June 15, 2023
