LeBron James wasn’t just OK with the Lakers signing Lance Stephenson. He even called his longtime antagonist to get him to Los Angeles, according to Pacers president Kevin Pritchard.

“I think when LeBron calls you up and says, ‘I want you,’ it’s hard for him to turn that down,” Pritchard said at a Friday press conference.

Stephenson, the mercurial Brooklyn native who has clashed with James over the years, signed a one-year deal worth $4.5 million with the Lakers. The Pacers declined their player option for Stephenson, but still had interest bringing him back.

“There was an opportunity for him to come back,” Pritchard said.

After rejoining the Pacers last season following stints with the Clippers, Grizzles, Timberwolves and Pelicans, the 6-foot-6 wing enjoyed a strong year this past season. He averaged 9.2 points and 5.2 rebounds to help the Pacers to a 48-34 record and a first-round playoff ouster in seven games at the hands of James and Cavaliers.

The 27-year-old Stephenson has been a nuisance to James, repeatedly getting under his skin. It began in the 2012 postseason when Stephenson made a choking gesture directed at James following a missed free throw. It has included ear-blowing, trash talk, flopping (mostly by Stephenson) and after-the-whistle antics.

James called him “dirty” this year after being given a technical foul for pushing Stephenson. James was given a technical foul in the two teams’ opening-round series for shoving Stephenson.

The Pacers looked favorably on Stephenson’s time with them and everything that came with the eccentric guard.

“At the end of the day, Lance gave us some great years,” Pritchard said. “We love Lance. We love Lance on the court, we love Lance off the court. Sometimes, he was the best player on our team and sometimes he was the best player on the other team.”

But now he will be on the opposing sideline from Indiana, apparently because James made sure of that with a well-timed phone call.