LOS ANGELES — LeBron James has announced that he is taking a step back from social media.
The legendary NBA player and current star of the Los Angeles Lakers made the announcement on his social media accounts, including the platform known as X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram. He has an impressive 159 million followers on Instagram and 52.9 million on X.
In his farewell message, James began by sharing a post from Rich Kleiman, the longtime manager of fellow NBA star Kevin Durant, which he posted on October 24. Kleiman’s message emphasized that while sports unite people, the coverage often fails to do the same. He stated, “It’s only click bait when you say it. When the platform is so big, you can make the change and allow us all an escape from real life negativity. I for one find it all a waste of breath.”
Following this, James shared a screengrab of Kleiman’s post on Instagram, expressing his disappointment with a caption that read, “Damn shame what it’s come to.” On X, he simply commented, “AMEN!!”
Kleiman has not posted frequently since his initial comment, and it appears that James plans to limit his social media activity as well. His announcement comes shortly after he addressed criticisms he faced online, particularly regarding his viewership of Dalton Knecht’s college games last year at Tennessee. James had stated, “everybody on the Internet called me a liar all the time,” alluding to skepticism surrounding his statements.
He concluded his message with a sign-off, saying, “And with that said I’ll holla at y’all! Getting off social media for the time being. Y’all take care,” followed by emojis featuring a hand making a peace sign and a crown, referencing his title as “King James.”
At 39 years old, James is currently the oldest active player in the NBA. He has won four NBA championships and three Olympic gold medals, the latest of which he earned earlier this year at the Paris Games.
As for the Lakers, they are performing well this season with a record of 10-4, having achieved six consecutive victories. Their next game is scheduled for Thursday at home against the Orlando Magic.