LeBron James calls OKC Thunder GM Sam Presti the MVP

The Oklahoma City Thunder fan base was expecting a fun drama-free NBA All-Star weekend. Their prized rookie Josh Giddey participating in the rising stars challenge, and the NBA Skills contest, it should have been a quick and easy weekend with a stress-free All-Star game. Instead, during media availabilities after Team LeBron James practice, the man himself gave a quote that has the fanbase spinning.

Folks, I know when LeBron James, who seemingly runs the sport of basketball single-handedly, talks we all rush to put on our tinfoil hats and try to read into every word by arguably the best player ever. Sometimes it is okay to just acknowledge what he said and move on without some deeper meaning. When the Lakers star forward calls Oklahoma City Thunder General Manager Sam Presti the “MVP” and tabs Les Snead, the L.A. Rams General Manager “his kind of guy.” it can simply be a compliment.

LeBron James calls Sam Presti the “MVP” praising his eye for talent after Team LeBron practice ahead of Sunday’s NBA All-Star Game

LeBron James spoke about OKC Thunder General Manager Sam Presti saying “The MVP over there is Sam Presti…I do not understand this guy’s eye for talent. He drafted KD, Russ, Jeff Green, Serge Ibaka, Reggie Jackson, Josh Giddey…This guy is pretty good.” While tabbing Jackson as some sort of find is interesting, and including Giddey among future Hall of Famers is flattering, this quote does not need to spark controversy.

Sam Presti loves control, he loves draft picks, and he loves flexibility none of that is offered in L.A. with LeBron James in charge or the current state of the Purple and Gold’s future assets. It is not an appealing opportunity for Presti to jump ship, Especially after turning down his hometown Celtics just an offseason ago. I do not have worries of Presti fleeing Bricktown in favor of LaLa Land this offseason after the almighty LeBron James gave him praise.

Could this give even more reason to believe that James might wear an Oklahoma City Thunder jersey in the future as he mentions he wants to play with his son, Bronny before he retires and the fact Presti controls the draft with a ton of future picks? Maybe, but that is still very much in wait-and-see mode. While James will “do anything” to play with his son, it is hard to predict that far in the future.

If you still worry that Presti will ditch OKC for LeBron’s Lakers, look no further than his praise of Les Snead who famously wore a “[expletive] them picks” shirt at the Rams championship parade after he went all in to win a Super Bowl this year.

That is, let’s just say opposite of Presti’s vision so some conflict in praise from James today. Though, both styles can work depending on things such as market size.

While it is fun to make tampering jokes given LeBron’s history, fans should just sit back and appreciate Presti getting praised by one of the league’s biggest tastemakers. Especially after the OKC Thunder General Manager has battled some pushback from the National Media during this rebuild. Trust in Presti, LeBron does.