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LeBron James Struggled for Words After Unexpected NBA Trade

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Ayomide Adeduyite | Last updated Aug 27, 2025 11:33 AM ET

LeBron James opted into his $52.6 million player option with the Los Angeles Lakers for the 2025-26 season, even as his name has been linked to potential moves outside of Los Angeles throughout the offseason.

James’ career has been shaped as much by roster moves as by his own individual success. Drafted first overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003, he spent seven seasons there before joining the Miami Heat, where he won two titles. He later returned to Cleveland to deliver the city’s first championship in 2016 before signing with the Lakers in 2018, winning again in 2020.

Through it all, trades and departures have left lasting marks on his career, and one moment in particular still stands out.

Tyronn Lue Details LeBron James’ Reaction to Kyrie Irving Trade

Tyronn Lue, who coached the Cavaliers during their championship run, revisited the aftermath of Kyrie Irving’s trade to the Boston Celtics during an appearance on the Club Shay Shay podcast. Asked if he could have done anything to keep James and Irving together, Lue admitted:

“He had made his mind up. That’s like a Kobe and Shaq situation. I wouldn’t have let that happen. I begged and pleaded.”

Lue then described how James reacted when he found out about the trade. He explained that James had been signing jerseys at a Cavaliers Foundation event when he handed him the phone showing the breaking news on SportsCenter.

According to Lue, James immediately dropped his marker, leaned back in his chair, and sat in silence for nearly 10 minutes — struggling to find the words. Lue said the forward was visibly upset and crushed, adding that the trade shifted the franchise’s direction.

“I come sit next to Bron, we’re sitting there. I handed him the phone. SportsCenter: ‘Kyrie Irving has just been traded to the Boston Celtics,’” Lue said. “Man, Bron dropped the marker and just laid back at his chair for about 10 minutes, doesn’t say a word, just pissed off. Bron was crushed.”

He also suggested that James might have stayed in Cleveland longer if Irving had not been dealt away.

Kyrie Irving’s Departure Changed the Trajectory of LeBron James’ Career

Irving’s exit marked the beginning of the end for that Cleveland team. Following another disappointing Finals loss to the Golden State Warriors, the Cavaliers entered a rebuild, while the Celtics emerged as an Eastern Conference challenger. James would end up joining the Lakers after the 2017-18 season, where he remains today.

Now preparing for his 23rd NBA season, he continues to compete at an elite level while pushing the Lakers to remain contenders in a changing Western Conference. In hindsight, the Irving trade not only altered the Cavaliers’ future but also played a defining role in shaping the next chapter of James’ career.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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