David Griffin is reportedly backtracking after wondering aloud in an interview published Thursday if LeBron James was as committed to winning as he used to be.
Griffin spoke with a person close to James after the Sports Illustrated article came out and said his comments were missing some context, sources told ESPN's Dave McMenamin.
In the SI story, Griffin stated about James, "I don't think he's the same animal anymore about winning", and added that his job as general manager of the Cleveland Cavaliers with LeBron there was difficult.
"Everything we did was so inorganic and unsustainable and, frankly, not fun. I was miserable," Griffin said. "Literally the moment we won the (2016) championship, I knew I was gonna leave. There was no way I was gonna stay for any amount of money."
Sources close to James also told McMenamin they were "shocked" at Griffin's characterization. James posted a cryptic tweet Thursday evening.
Alright alright. Enough is enough. The throne has been played with to much and I ainโt for horseplay. Ether coming soon! ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ #JamesGangโ๐พ
โ LeBron James (@KingJames) August 1, 2019
Former NBA center Kendrick Perkins - who played for the Cavs in 2015 - also chimed in on the matter.
Would Griff have any credibility if he wasnโt in the front office with Lebron on team? Griff for the last 2 years you praised Lebron for buying into the Culture in Cleveland and how professional he was and now your saying itโs inorganic?! Your real problem was Dan Gilbert!!! ๐ฏ๐๐พ
โ Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) August 1, 2019
Griffin left the Cavs in 2017 when his contract expired, a year before James' departure to the Los Angeles Lakers. As the new president of the New Orleans Pelicans, Griffin satisfied Anthony Davis' trade request by dealing him to the Lakers in June.
