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Brian Windhorst Says He Owes LeBron James 'A Lot' Despite Lakers Star's Comments


ESPN reporter Brian Windhorst said he owes fellow Akron, Ohio, native LeBron James "a lot" despite recent criticism from the Los Angeles Lakers star.

"LeBron doesn't owe me anything. I owe him a lot," Windhorst said in a Thursday appearance on ESPN Cleveland. "He has been a great friend to my hometown, and my alma mater. That I would stand on. Anything else, I would never say, or never stand on.

"I met LeBron 25 years ago. And my understanding of LeBron, and where people stand in his life, has been crystal clear for a long time."

James originally called out the ESPN reporter during a Wednesday appearance on The Pat McAfee Show.

"I've seen Brian Windhorst on one of these shows not too long ago. This guy says he's like my f--king best friend," James said around the 50:40 mark.

James went on to say Windhorst had inaccurately reported he signed with Nike because of Michael Jordan.

"No the f--k I didn't," James said. "I signed with Nike because I got a hell of a signing bonus and they gave me a seven-year, $90 million contract."

James appeared to be referring to a February appearance by Windhorst on ESPN's First Take, during which Windhorst said James had "asked to be the face of the league" in part due to him signing his Nike contract "because of Jordan."

Windhorst was defended by fellow ESPN reporter Tim MacMahon in Friday's episode of his Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective podcast.

"Not one single time have I ever heard you say that you were friends, much less best friends, with LeBron James," MacMahon said at the 1:00 mark, adding that James' comments were not "honest" or "accurate."

James also called out ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith during his talk with McAfee. The feud between the two, which recently included a courtside confrontation, continued Thursday when Smith posted a lengthy response to James' comments.

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