No, LeBron James isn't best friends with Kevin Love. And yes, that's perfectly OK.

As media and fans try to split hairs over the uncertain chemistry between James and his new Cleveland Cavaliers teammate, LeBron isn't making any bones about it: They aren't best friends.

But that's not a diss.

"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," James said, according to Cleveland.com. "And after that I have a bunch of teammates. I have guys I ride for every day."

James' comments were partially in response to Love saying that he and James weren't best friends. In that case, too, Love downplayed the implications of that non-friendship, saying that they got along as teammates.

James agrees that the friendship component of their relationship doesn't determine their on-court success.

"Kyrie [Irving] is a guy I understand how important he is to this team, how important he is," James said. "And the same with [Kevin] as well."

Earlier this month, Love said that his former UCLA teammate and current Oklahoma City Thunder star, Russell Westbrook, would be his pick for MVP. That rubbed some observers the wrong way, who saw it as a slight that he didn't pick his own teammate in James.

Again, James shrugged off those comments and said he didn't take them personally. And while it's true that their personal relationship has nothing to do with their on-court success and title aspirations, one can't help but wonder what it says about the long-term stability of the current Cavs roster.

Then again, James did ditch his self-proclaimed best friend this summer when he left Miami and Wade to play in Cleveland. Maybe it really is all about basketball.

More: LeBron Has Ditched His Headband, And No One Is Exactly Sure Why

NBA Stars In New Uniforms

 

LeBron James

James crushed Cleveland when he abandoned the team that drafted him to "take his talents to South Beach." In four years in Miami, James led the Heat to four straight NBA Finals appearances, as well as two NBA titles.

 

LeBron James

After last season's crushing NBA Finals loss to the San Antonio Spurs, James opted out of his contract with Miami and re-signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Afterward, James said that he realized how much his native Ohio meant to him, and that coming back to the Cavs felt like "coming home."

 

Kevin Love

Love became a skilled rebounder and prolific scorer with the Timberwolves. But, frustrated by failing to make the playoffs in his entire career with Minnesota, Love had his sights set on moving to a bigger basketball market--either via trade or as a free agent in 2015.

 

Kevin Love

When James signed in Cleveland, though, Love was drawn to the opportunity to play on a championship-caliber roster, and the Timberwolves shipped him out.

 

Paul Pierce

After spending his entire career in Boston, Pierce was traded in 2013 to the Brooklyn Nets. After a tumultuous season that ended in a second-round playoff exit, "The Truth" became a free agent.

 

Paul Pierce

Instead of retiring, Pierce chose to join the Washington Wizards, where he is the veteran leader of a young and talented group. Last season, the Wizards advanced to the NBA Playoffs' second round. Pierce is hoping to lead them further.

 

Pau Gasol

Pau Gasol has two NBA championships to his name. But the Los Angeles Lakers struggled to be competitive in recent years, which made Gasol look elsewhere.

 

Pau Gasol

Ultimately, Gasol chose to sign a three-year contract with the Chicago Bulls. His arrival, combined with the defensive presences of Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson, give the Bulls one of the NBA's most talented frontcourts.

 

Lance Stephenson

Despite some of his erratic behavior on the court, Stephenson was a highly valued player for Indiana, and a key reason why the Pacers reached last years' Eastern Conference Finals.

 

Lance Stephenson

Unfortunately for the Pacers, Stephenson's market price was too high for the to afford. The team was forced to part ways with him, as Stephenson signed a much more lucrative deal with the Charlotte Hornets.

 

Luol Deng

After failing to reach a contract agreement with Chicago, the Bulls shipped Deng off mid-season to Cleveland. Deng arrived ready to commit to the team long-term, but chemistry issues and other in-house problems changed Deng's mind.

 

Luol Deng

Instead, Deng became a free agent and served as the effective replacement for LeBron James in Miami, where he signed a two-year, $20 million contract.

 

Chandler Parsons

With Houston, Parsons came out of obscurity to become a major offensive weapon, particularly around the three-point line. Instead of letting him finish out his rookie contract, the Rockets made Parsons a restricted free agent and gambled on how much other teams would be willing to pay.

 

Chandler Parsons

That gamble didn't pay off for Houston, though. Dallas came in with a $46 million offer that the Rockets ultimately passed on. The move has left Parsons bitter about how the Rockets essentially got rid of him, while the Rockets feel Dallas overpaid just to steal their young wing player.

 

Jeremy Lin

After an awkward tenure in Houston, Lin was shipped out by the Rockets to make room for a max contract signing. Unfortunately for Houston, that max contract never materialized -- the franchise swung and missed on all of its top targets.

 

Jeremy Lin

That's good news for the Lakers, who picked up a new starting point guard at a great price. With one year left on his contract, Lin will benefit from being mentored by former two-time MVP Steve Nash.

 

Isaiah Thomas

Thomas emerged from a packed Sacramento backcourt to prove himself as a reliable ball handler and explosive scoring point guard. While many thought he would get a strong contract offer from the Kings, the franchise didn't fight to keep him on their roster.

 

Isaiah Thomas

Instead, Thomas signed with Phoenix, where ball-handling guards are part of the team's new strategy. Despite joining established stars Goran Dragic and Eric Bledsoe, Thomas figures to be a major contributor to the up-and-coming team.

 

Vince Carter

No longer the flashy dunker and scorer of his youth, Vince Carter has reinvented himself as a savvy veteran in the NBA. He was a consistent starter for Dallas for several years, maturing into a smart passer and teammate while still contributing as a scorer.

 

Vince Carter

Carter hopes to provide the same spark in Memphis, where wing help is much-needed. If Carter can provide the same caliber of play he displayed with the Mavericks, it could push the Grizzlies to the top of the Western Conference.

 

Jason Kidd

Not two years removed from his playing days, Jason Kidd is already on his second team as a head coach. Last year, Kidd led the Brooklyn Nets through a rocky first season that finished strong, leaving a good impression as a rookie coach.

 

Jason Kidd

Kidd's relationship with the Nets crumbled, though, after he asked for the power to make personnel decisions. Brooklyn refused, and Kidd split for Milwaukee, where he inherits last year's worst franchise.

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