LeBron James announced he is taking a break from social media.
The NBA’s all-time leading scorer and Los Angeles Lakers star shared the news on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram on Wednesday, saying he would step away from his social media accounts. James has 159 million followers on Instagram and 52.9 million followers on X.
James began his post by sharing something that Rich Kleiman, Kevin Durant’s manager, wrote on X on October 24.
“We can all acknowledge that sports is the last part of society that universally brings people together. So why can’t the coverage do the same?” Kleiman wrote that day. “It’s only clickbait 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.”
On Instagram, James shared a screenshot of Kleiman’s post and added the caption, “Damn shame what it’s come to.” On X, James simply reposted Kleiman’s message with the words, “AMEN!!”
Kleiman has only posted a few times since his original message, and it seems that James isn’t planning to post much — if anything — until further notice.
His announcement came a day after he mentioned, “everybody on the Internet called me a liar all the time” when he said he had been watching Dalton Knecht’s college games at Tennessee before the Lakers drafted him.
“And with that said I’ll holla at y’all! Getting off social media for the time being. Y’all take care,” James posted, followed by emojis of a hand with two fingers up, often used to symbolize leaving, and a crown, referencing his “King James” nickname.
James, who is the NBA’s oldest active player at 39 and will turn 40 next month, is a four-time NBA champion and three-time Olympic gold medalist, with his most recent gold coming earlier this year in Paris.
The Lakers, with a 10-4 record, have won six straight games and will next play at home on Thursday against Orlando.
