LeBron won't talk to Phil during visit to Knicks after 'posse' comment

LeBron James will let his play do the talking when the Cleveland Cavaliers visit the New York Knicks on Wednesday.

James was asked Monday if he would chat with Knicks president Phil Jackson following his dismissive characterization of James and his business associates, an idea the reigning Finals MVP flatly shut down.

"No," James said, before reiterating why Jackson's comments were unacceptable.

"Didn't affect me, just know how much further we still have to go and how far we still have to go as African-Americans, even in the light of today," James told ESPN's Dave McMenamin.

"For me, I've built my career on and off the floor on the utmost respect and I've always given the utmost respect to everyone - all my peers, people that's laid the path for me and laid the path for coaches, players, things of that nature.

"I've always given respect to them and it's always, like I told you before, it's always shade thrown on me, so. It means we got a lot more work to do, myself and the team. We've got to continue to protect each other and continue to just be as great as we can be."

Jackson claimed in an earlier interview with ESPN that James required special treatment and referred to Maverick Carter and Rich Paul - James' business manager and agent - as his "posse."

That sparked pushback from Carter, James, Tyronn Lue, Kevin Durant, and even Jackson's franchise player, Carmelo Anthony.