LeBron James: Zlatan Ibrahimovic puts Lakers star in his place with big claim

ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC has put LeBron James in his place by telling him there is only one God.

LeBron James joined Zlatan Ibrahimovic in Los Angeles this summer when he moved to the Lakers from the Cleveland Cavaliers.

He will make his first competitive start for the Lakers tonight in their first match of the new NBA season against the Portland Trail Blazers.

He is expected to the turn the Lakers into playoff challengers but Ibrahimovic, who has scored 21 goals in 25 LA Galaxy games reckons he will only take second spot on the food chain.

"The LA people are thankful, they are grateful, appreciate everything I do, and they are happy when they see me.

"They make me happy and they are saying I am the best thing that happened to LA since Kobe Bryant retired.

"It makes me proud, it makes me happy."

Ibrahimovic has been linked with a return to Manchester United in January when the MLS campaign will be over.

LeBron James: Zlatan Ibrahimovic has sent LeBron James a message

LeBron James will play his first competitive game for the Lakers tonight

LeBron James: Zlatan Ibrahimovic has started well in Los Angeles

But the Swede who left United back in March admits he will probably need to rest now that he’s 37-years-old.

"I think I'm in the situation where I need to have a good balance between work and rest because I came back from injury, because of my age, and the load I'm putting in at training," he said.

"So that's nothing I've been thinking about because we still have two games, hopefully we make it to the play-offs. More than that I don't know what to say because I am not focused on that. I haven't thought about it."

And the striker was asked about staying in football after his career is over but cast doubt over a potential coaching career.

"I don't know if I can spend so much time by doing coaching or by being in that situation because it is very stressful," he said.

"It is not like being a footballer, you give a different impact when you are a player.

"When you are a coach you are dependent on the players and if they do not perform, you are not able to go in and make the difference. It's not easy, but today no."