For the fourth time in a row LeBron James is in the finals with the Cleveland Cavaliers. James, however, had doubts during the season whether the Cavs would even reach the postseason. LeBron also admitted that he was against Kyrie Irving’s trade with the Boston Celtics.
“We were at a point where people wondered if the Cavs could even reach the playoffs,” James admitted in an interview with Rachel Nichols (ESPN). “I didn’t want to hear any of that talk. That was ridiculous.”
LeBron also went through a period in December and January, when the Cavs lost nine out of twelve games and had received some hefty claps against Minnesota (-28), Toronto (-34) and OKC (148 points allowed).
“I wasn’t sure what to do with this franchise. We didn’t play a good basketball,” LeBron admitted bluntly. For the King it was a wake-up call that he had to set an example. According to James, he flipped the leverage before the trade deadline.
Doubts plagued James since the summer when the Cavs traded Kyrie Irving to the Boston Celtics. After many rumours, the superstar admitted for the first time that he advised management not to trade Kyrie.
“It seemed wrong to me that our franchise would just trade a superstar point guard,” James continued. “This boy had fought so many battles with me. Of course I wasn’t in the background for all the conversations and I don’t know exactly what happened, but it just felt like bad timing to me.”
James also did not support the decision not to renew the contract of former General Manager David Griffin, although he reiterated that the relationship with owner Dan Gilbert remained intact. “We’re not friends, but we have a good and professional relationship at work.”
However, the triple champion left open what role this will play in his Free Agency in the summer. James can become a free agent as of July 1 if he does not withdraw his $35.6 million option. This is now to be assumed.