For the better part of a year, rumors linked LeBron James to the Los Angeles Lakers. So when the Cleveland Cavaliers superstar announced his intentions to take his talents to Hollywood earlier this summer, it hardly came as a surprise to many -- including his now-former teammate, Kevin Love.
Speaking to ESPN's Jackie MacMullan for a video interview, Love revealed how he processed James leaving Cleveland for the Lakers. In doing so, he shared he was far from caught off-guard, having figured that if James was going anywhere, it would be Los Angeles.
"I had somewhat of an idea," Love shared. "Like everybody, I weighed the options and kind of had an idea of where he might go. I knew it was probably between Cleveland and Los Angeles."
At this point, however, it's clear that Love hardly holds any ill will toward his former teammate. In fact, the 4-time All-Star proceeded to praise James' basketball IQ and the role it may have played in his free agency decision.
"He's always looking for a different challenge," Love said of James, who he played along the past four seasons. "He's always wondering what's next. And it feels like sometimes he's playing chess and everybody else is playing checkers. He's very, very mentally strong, knows the game of basketball so well and sometimes there's something he sees that other people don't."
As for Love, he'll be remaining in Cleveland for the foreseeable future, having signed a 4-year, $120 million extension with the Cavs shortly after James' departure.
With James no longer in town, Love knows expectations have changed. But much like his former frontcourt mate, he's looking forward to his next challenge.
"We got a little bit spoiled with four straight trips to the Finals," Love said after signing his extension last month. "But now we get to build this thing again.”
