National Basketball Association

LeBron James after Kevin Love controversy: I only have three friends in the NBA

Published Mar. 31, 2015 7:57 p.m. ET

foxsports

It can be lonely at the top.

Just ask King James.

Cavaliers superstar LeBron James found himself in an awkward position after Kevin Love publicly declared that he and James were "not best friends" and that Love would choose former UCLA teammate and Okalahoma City Thunder star Russell Westbrook over current Cleveland teammate James for NBA MVP.

James himself showed there was no Love lost between them when he posted this chummy picture on his Instagram account of himself with teammates Iman Shumpert and Kyrie Irving, among others — but sans Love — at about the same time:

When pressed on the camaraderie among Cavaliers, James revealed he doesn't count very many NBA players in his inner circle at all.

"People get so infatuated with the best of friends, things of that nature," James told the Northeast Ohio Media Group. "First of all, I've got three very good friends in this league, and that's Carmelo (Anthony), and that's C.P. (Chris Paul), and that's D-Wade. And after that I have a bunch of teammates. I have guys I ride for every day."

However, James realizes everyone has to come together for the Cavs to win, even if they're not BFFs.

"In order for us to reach our potential, the Big Three has to be big," James said. "And it can't just be Kyrie one night, me one night, and Kev. We all have to be clicking at the same time in order for us to be successful."