Lakers Rookie Apologizes for Comments About LeBron James

He made sure to clear the air quickly.

Your Los Angeles Lakers introduced their two rookie draft picks on Tuesday at their El Segundo practice facility.

First-round draft pick Jalen Hood-Schifino and second-round pick Maxwell Lewis met Lakers media for the first time, and officially answered their first questions as members of the Lakers organizations.

They were asked about everything from being drafted by the Lakers, what they'll bring to LA and even about their connections to Kobe Bryant. Additionally, Hood-Schifino was asked about the viral social media post that brought up the fact that he was just seven days old the day his new teammate, LeBron James, was drafted into the NBA. Seven. Days. Old.

"I saw that," Hood-Schifino said, "and was like, 'Dang, LeBron's old!'"

Jalen Hood-Schifino on the social media post going around on draft night that detailed how he was only 7 days old when LeBron James was drafted into the NBA: “I saw that … and was like, ‘Dang, LeBron’s old!’”

— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) June 27, 2023

This was a hilarious (and true) answer, but it didn't take long for Hood-Schifino to slightly backtrack on those comments. He took to his Instagram story to apologize to his new teammate for calling him old.

"I would never disrespect LeBron. He's one of the best players to ever play this game and I'm blessed to be able to play along side him! If anything, I'm praising him for what he's doing at his age"

Lakers rookie Jalen Hood-Schifino clears the air after his “LeBron is old” comments😂😂 pic.twitter.com/GL08oSmx64

— ²³𝙻𝚎𝙱𝚛𝚘𝚗𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚜🏀☄️🌎💞 (@BronGotGame) June 28, 2023

I'm not sure who got into Hood-Schifino's head here, but this apology was definitely not necessary. Hood-Schifino was just making a funny observation, which is completely fair considering he wasn't born when James was dominating high schools and making his case as the greatest NBA prospect ever.

Either way, it's nice to see how much the rookie respects James, and that he knows his place on this team filled with great veterans. Hood-Schifino is showing his character quickly, and it's clear he's going to be a great addition to this team.

Also, this is definitely something the guys on the team will laugh about, likely all year long.

Are you following us on Twitter, Facebook, or YouTube yet? Join the conversation as we discuss the latest Lakers news and rumors with fans like you!