LeBron: Dennis Smith Jr. comments 'definitely a shot at' Phil Jackson

LeBron James attempted to clarify his comments about Dennis Smith Jr. and Frank Ntilikina Monday, and found a new way to slam Phil Jackson.

James, who opined Saturday that the New York Knicks should have chosen Smith over Ntilikina in June's draft, was asked by reporters if his comments were a slight at former team president Phil Jackson.

"Oh yeah it was definitely a shot at him, that's for sure," James said with a grin after shootaround in New York, via Cleveland.com.

LeBron has appeared to hold a public grudge against Jackson ever since the former coach and executive referred to James' business partners last year as a "posse."

"I'm not a fan of Phil Jackson, but I think you guys already know that," he said.

Jackson drafted Ntilikina eighth, one pick before Smith went to the Dallas Mavericks. The selection came amid criticism in New York given Smith's more NBA-ready game. Jackson was dismissed as Knicks president six days later.

LeBron added he wasn't knocking Ntilikina, but rather praising Smith - who first attended James' basketball camp when he was 13. He did, however, take a fresh shot at Knicks center Enes Kanter - who waded into the discussion Sunday.

"I wasn't throwing shade at Frank at all ... for clarification of people who just live in a box and for Enes Kanter, who always got something to say," James said.

"It's the same thing, I think DeShaun Watson should be a (Cleveland) Brown. It doesn't mean that Myles Garrett is not gonna be a great football player."