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LeBron was with Love when Kyrie called to apologize

Gregory Shamus / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love was present when former teammate Kyrie Irving called Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James to apologize for his inability to understand the King's leadership role during the trio's three-year run as Eastern Conference champions.

Love, the lone remaining member of the trio in Cleveland, was at dinner with James in Los Angeles on Sunday after the Cavaliers beat the Lakers 101-95 to snap a 12-game losing streak.

"LeBron looked down at his phone and he showed us," Love told The Athletic's Joe Vardon. "He was like, 'I wonder what he wants?'"

Irving, by his own account, admitted that he did not - as a 22-year-old two-time All-Star when Lebron rejoined the Cavaliers in 2014 - fully appreciate the value of James' leadership role.

"I think Kyrie went through some of the same struggles that I did," Love said, who was 26 when the Cavaliers acquired him in 2014. "There were some bad habits and maybe not knowing what it means to sacrifice and take a back seat to someone like a LeBron, who was trying to teach us how to win. I think I'm a much better player now, a much better teammate from having gone through it."

Irving forced a trade out of Cleveland in 2017. The Boston Celtics eventually acquired the point guard for Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic, and a first-round pick that eventually became Collin Sexton.

Love signed a four-year, $120-million extension with the Cavaliers in July.

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