If anybody can relate the scrutiny LeBron James has endured for his Finals failures, it’s the man on the National Basketball Association logo, Jerry West, who Saturday afternoon launched into a passionate defense of the Cavaliers star.
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The Logo finished his career with a 1-8 record on the championship stage, finally winning in 1972.
On Saturday, West, who is currently a minority owner of the Golden State Warriors, put media members and fans on notice about what he would do if he faced that same ridiculous criticism that LeBron is facing now.
There’s also definitely something to be said about even making all of those Finals appearances in the first place, especially in James’ case with the league now having about twice as many teams as it did back when West played.
“That’s the most ridiculous thing”, a fiery West said while surrounded by more than a dozen reporters at Warriors practice.
“I think it’s random”, Lue said, “because they switch a lot of things and they switch it one through five, so a lot of guys end up on him”. “He’s carried teams on his shoulders”.
James is playing in his sixth straight Finals, but Michael Jordan, the man he is often compared to, is a flawless 6-0 on basketball’s grandest stage. How many times has he been the favorite? None. Zero, OK? Grossly unfair to him.
“I don’t want to sound like Donald Trump, but it’s hard to believe that someone doesn’t recognize that greatness”. This guy does everything, and he’s competitive as hell. “He does everything, and he’s competitive as hell and frankly I wish people would leave him alone”. “No fun to get there that many times and not get the results you want, regardless of how you played”. Instead of arguing against the mindless maw of those who look to discredit James’ accomplishments, it’s better to just accept that it will inevitably be part of his legacy, unless he were to win these Finals, and two more, and somehow come out of his career with a winning Finals record. I’m at seven up to this point. In the playoff, the best players are supposed to play better. I did. It made no difference. So that doesn’t bother me. “What would bother me is if I went out there and didn’t give it everything I’ve had”. “And he knows that I like him”.
Game 2 is Sunday in Oakland.
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“For me, about three times I just didn’t want to play anymore”. West said “it’s flattering” that James chose to read his book (for at least the second time) and said he hoped James gleaned from it “just how hard it is” to win.
