LOS ANGELES —

LeBron James warned Los Angeles Lakers fans not to expect an immediate challenge to the dominance of the Golden State Warriors as the NBA superstar addressed the media for the first time here Monday.

The 33-year-old four-time NBA MVP joined the Lakers in July on a four-year $154 million deal which was sealed just weeks after his Cleveland Cavaliers were beaten by the Warriors for the third time in four years.

James arrives in Los Angeles with the Lakers desperately trying to regain their former glory after several years of steady decline which has seen them fail to reach the playoffs for five straight seasons.

The capture of James prompted bookmakers to slash the odds on the Lakers winning another NBA title — 7/2 behind Warriors.

James, however, sought to put a lid on the expectations Monday, warning that any challenge to their Western Conference rival Warriors was a long way off.

“We’ve got a long way to go to get to Golden State,” James said at the Lakers’ media day.

“They can pick up right where they left off, starting with training camp. We’re picking up from scratch. So we have a long way to go.

“We can’t worry about what Golden State is doing. Golden State is Golden State and they’re the champions. They’ve been together for a few years now.”

James also rejected a suggestion that the Lakers would need to win a championship to be deemed successful.

“I don’t believe that,” he said. “There’s only one champion, but that doesn’t mean you’re not successful. There’s going to be wins and losses and things of that nature.

“But what you can control is how you prepare every day. How we prepare every day, try and get better every day. We’re a new ball club trying to get better. We’re all new to each other.

“If we continue to work the process, and sacrifice for each other and put in the work and the time everything will fall into place.”

James will join a young core group of players that includes 20-year-old Lonzo Ball and 23-year-olds Kyle Kuzma and Josh Hart as well as savvy veterans Javale McGee and Rajon Rondo, who like James signed with the Lakers in the offseason.

James admitted he was excited at the prospect of donning the Lakers’ yellow jersey and following in the footsteps of iconic figures such as Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal.

“I think we all know this franchise has been a historical franchise in this league for years,” James said. “You talk about the championships, the players that have come through this franchise, that have worn this uniform, that’s an excitement in its own right.

“It’s always humbling for me to be a part of something special.”

James also emphasized that his decision to move to Los Angeles — which puts him closer to the capital of the entertainment industry where he has multiple television and movie projects — was based solely on basketball.

“My decision was based solely on my family and the Lakers,” James said. “I’m a basketball player. I play ball. That’s what I do.

“As far as my business is concerned, that stuff has been taking care of itself long before I came out here.”

The Lakers kick off their season on Oct. 18 with a visit to the Portland Trail Blazers before playing their first home game against the Houston Rockets at the Staples Center on Oct. 20. — Agencies