The future of the Cleveland Cavaliers and LeBron James have never looked brighter after coming off an amazing run to the 2015 NBA Finals. After re-signing most of its players for the next season and adding a lost son in Mo Williams, the Cavs’ championship window is wider than ever.
Still, it’s the past that’s bothering James up to now, weeks after his Cavs team was only two wins shy of the NBA championship. In a Bleacher Report Radio interview on Sirius XM, LeBron revealed that he has never fully recovered from the sting of that 4-2 Finals defeat at the hands of the Golden State Warriors.
“I just don’t feel like you ever move on from losing in the Finals…” – LeBron James
While some of the NBA’s greats have learned to move on after Finals losses, LeBron sounds a lot like Hall-of-Famer Jerry West (1-8 win-loss record in the NBA Finals) who was very hard on himself in his losses to the Celtics during the 1960’s which he admits still haunt him up to now.
"“I just don’t feel like you ever move on from losing in the Finals because you feel like you’re right there and feel like you have the opportunity to do something special. … I can never get away from losing in the Finals.”"
This feeling of regret appears to be the driving force behind James’ five-year run at the Finals since 2011 in which he is 2-3 after his latest defeat. He feels that he could have done better which drives him to work hard in the off-season to become an even better player.
Jun 14, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) shoots the ball against Golden State Warriors forward
Draymond Green(23) in game five of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ezra Shaw-Pool Photo via USA TODAY Sports
But it appears that it’s not simply the loss that bothers James. It’s the opportunities that were there for the taking which he failed to capitalize on.
"“I guess there’s nightmares now about situations throughout the games that’s always replaying in my head. It’s definitely difficult, you know I’m getting better every day, but you know it takes quite a while for me to get out of the funk.”"
As for his therapy during these difficult moments? It’s none other than his three children whom he’s been blessed to have by his side over the past years.
Despite the loss, many people around the NBA have a newfound appreciation for James’ greatness. His historic play in the Finals, which included shattering NBA records along the way, caught the eyes of even his toughest critics who recognize an all-time great performance when they see one. Chalk it up to an all-time great, six-game showcase that netted LeBron averages of 35.8 points, 13.3 rebounds and 8.8 assists, a masterpiece of a Finals run that ended in a bitter loss in Game 6 in Cleveland no less.
As great as he was, LeBron acknowledged that he needed help from his friends, something that came scarcely as the games wore on without his two All-Star buddies in Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love.
"“If we had our two All-Stars in the lineup it gives us a better shot. Does it say we’re gonna win the championship? Does not. You’ve still got to go out on the floor and play the game, but it definitely gives us a much better shot than we had.”"
It’s a statement that sort of mirrors Irving’s take on the series had he and Love been healthy. But unlike Irving, James isn’t exactly handing the championship over to his team even if he had both players alongside him.
"“It still doesn’t guarantee you a championship if all guys are healthy, but obviously it would’ve gave us a better chance. That’s obvious. I think we all can understand that that’s obvious.”"
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Yes it is obvious, LeBron and you are right to measure your words, too, especially after the backlash you took from declaring yourself as “the best player in the world” when your team went down 3-2 just moments earlier. Let someone else do it for you next time.
As the 2015-16 season looms in the horizon, James will most likely continue feel the pain of the Cavs’ second Finals loss during his tenure with the team. Because if there is one thing we know about LeBron in these losses, the King learns to forgive himself for his failures. But the one thing he can never ever do is forget.
Credit goes to ESPN for transcribing some of James’ words from the interview.
Are you surprised how much LeBron is impacted by the NBA Finals loss?