LeBron James says facing Miami Heat has no extra meaning for him
The NBA Finals are starting in the bubble in Orlando and one of the biggest favorites for sportsbooks all year long, the LA Lakers, will face a surprising opponent from the East, the Miami Heat. The Heat, led by Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, along with the young talent of Tyler Herro and Duncan Robinson, and the experience of Andre Iguodala, surprised the whole NBA world after eliminating the league’s best team of the regular season, the Milwaukee Bucks, in second round, and then the Boston Celtics in the conference finals.
If you have followed LeBron James’ career or just the NBA in general in the past few years, you already know that he used to play for Miami, and not only that, but in the four years he was there, the team went to the NBA Finals all four times, and won the championship twice, with Erik Spoelstra as the head Coach and Pat Riley as the team’s General Manager. LeBron James was drafted and played for the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2003 to 2011, when he moved to Miami in the search for a ring, then left the Heat 4 years after to go back to Cleveland to fight for another championship there, which he got back in 2016, when he and the Cavs overcame a 1-3 deficit against the 73-9 Golden State Warriors.
With the Lakers, King James missed the playoffs last year, in his first season with the Purple and Gold, after getting injured and missing 27 games, but now, about to play in his 10th finals, he faces his former team and coach, which is why he was asked about this in a press conference.
Circumstances will make the 2020 NBA championship remarkable
When asked about facing his former team in his 10th NBA Finals, LeBron James said that “circumstances, not opponent, would make 2020 remarkable”, trying to take some of the edge off that question. LeBron had nothing but great things to say about his former team, about Spoelstra and about Pat Riley, but his mind is set on the price and he then valued what the bubble has meant for him and the team, and why this ring would be special.
“It’s no extra meaning to winning the finals, no matter who you’re playing against. It´is already hard enough to even reach the Finals, to be in this position”.
About life in the NBA bubble, James said; “It’s probably been the most challenging thing I’ve ever done as far as a professional, as far as committing to something and actually making it through. But I knew when I was coming what we were coming here for. I would be lying if I sat up here and knew that everything inside the bubble, the toll that it would take on your mind and your body and everything else, because it’s been extremely tough. But I’m here for one reason and one reason only, and that’s to compete for a championship.”
Do you think LBJ and the Lakers will be able to take the trophy home? Or will the Heat be able to shock the world again and give the biggest upset of 2020 in American sports?