NEW ORLEANS — There is no personal relationship between LeBron James and Zion Williamson. At all.
“I guess we haven’t crossed paths,” Zion said Friday, after scoring 24 points in an easy win over LeBron’s old team, the Cleveland Cavaliers.
What Zion said, of course, is not true, and when the Lakers come here Sunday for a showdown with the Pelicans on ESPN, it will mark at least the fifth time since Zion was the No. 1 pick of the 2019 draft that he and LeBron have been in the same building.
Their most recent encounter was Tuesday in Los Angeles, the first time LeBron had ever played against Zion. The Lakers won that game and LeBron enjoyed his first 40-point game of the season. Afterward, both players made it so abundantly clear that they have not ever spoken that it got awkward.
“I’ve never met him,” LeBron said. “I never met him before. Never. Never had a conversation with him. Never met him before.”
During the game,…
