A former teammate had a sarcastic response about LeBron James.
NBA Champion Reveals Why Being LeBron James’ Teammate ‘Sucks’ originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Richard Jefferson might be joking, but he’s also not really joking.
The 2016 NBA champion and former Cleveland Cavaliers forward recently shared what it’s like being teammates with LeBron James, and let’s just say, it’s not for the faint of heart.
“Here are the cons to playing with LeBron,” Jefferson said during a new episode of "Road Trippin’," the podcast he co-hosts with Channing Frye and Allie Clifton. “Playing with LeBron sucks because you're trying to win a championship. He's one of the most competitive human beings in the history of American sport and sports in general.”
Jefferson, who spent two seasons with James in Cleveland and helped deliver the franchise’s first-ever NBA title in 2016, knows exactly how intense the "King" can be.
“Does it suck when you're showing up and he's already been practicing for four hours?” he asked. “When he's watching film and you mess up a play, and he's like, ‘(Expletive), what are you doing?’ Yeah, those are the cons.”
To be clear, Jefferson said it all with love and sarcasm. Being teammates with James also means contending for championships, playing in prime time, and having a front-row seat to greatness. But make no mistake, James’ work ethic is no joke.
The comments come at a time when James' future is once again the subject of NBA drama. With the Lakers struggling to build a title-contending roster and rumors swirling about friction with the front office, multiple teams, including the Cavaliers, have reportedly contacted Rich Paul, James' agent, to explore a trade.
James, 40, only added fuel to the rumors by congratulating his longtime friend and Cavs executive Brandon Weems on a new contract. Naturally, fans are already buzzing about a possible third chapter in Cleveland.
If that happens, whoever ends up in the locker room with James again might want to prepare for those “sucky” parts, like chasing greatness.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 14, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: Basketball
