LeBron James was interested in joining Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis, and Duke Blue Devils basketball's Cooper Flagg on the Dallas Mavericks before opting into his contract with the Los Angeles Lakers.

In fact, "there were whispers in league circles about LeBron James having eyes for Dallas," Hollinger reports. But the four-time NBA MVP was not willing to pass on $52.6 million with the Lakers for a non-taxpayer mid-level exception to sign.

The Mavericks' No. 1 pick gave an eye-opening, yet perfect response on whether he would draft himself over LeBron to start a franchise