It was less than two years ago that LeBron James and Kyrie Irving spent the better part of their summer engaged in a not-so-subtle social media feud after the latter demanded a trade from the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Suffice to say, plenty has changed in the time since.
With NBA free agency approaching and Irving all but guaranteed to opt out his contract with the Boston Celtics, some have speculated that he could be headed toward a reunion with James, who is now a member on the Los Angeles Lakers. On Friday, James fueled those flames -- and then some -- liking a photoshopped picture of Irving wearing a Lakers jersey that had been posted to Instagram.
Although an Instagram like hardly doubles as a binding contract, it goes without saying that James was well aware that his social media activity would be seen and how it would ultimately be received. And while it, of course, would take two to tango, Irving at least appears more open to a reunion with James now than he might have been even just a year ago.
At least that appeared to be the case earlier this year, when Irving confessed he had called his former Cavs teammate to apologize for the way he had received his leadership during their three years together in Cleveland.
"This was a big deal for me, because I had to call 'Bron and tell him I apologized for being that young player that wanted everything at his fingertips, and I wanted everything at my threshold," Irving told reporters in January. "I wanted to be the guy that led us to a championship. I wanted to be the leader. I wanted to be all that, and the responsibility of being the best in the world and leading your team is something that is not meant for many people."
A week later, Ric Bucher of Bleacher Report reported Irving was "genuinely interested" in a reunion with James, whose Lakers possess enough cap space to sign at least one free agent to a max contract this summer. For what it's worth, none of this can actually happen until NBA free agency begins on June 30.
Until then, all we can do is read the tea leaves -- or in this case, Instagram likes.
