Posted on 06/10/2018 4:18:48 AM PDT by wmileo
Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James revealed that he played the last three games of the NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors with a “self-inflicted” injured hand.
Speaking at a news conference early Saturday, James – who had cast covering his right hand – admitted to hurting himself after punching a whiteboard out of frustration after Game 1.
"I let the emotions get the best of me and pretty much played the last three games with a broken hand," James said following Friday's Game 4 loss to the Warriors.
He explained that that he was upset by some calls that went against the Cavs late in the fourth quarter of their opening loss and he was upset they had missed their chance to win on the road. James scored 23 points in Game 4.
Sources told ESPN that James had two MRIs during the series and wore a soft cast when he wasn’t practicing, playing or in view of the media – as to not give the Warriors a competitive advantage. He would ice his hands after games and used tennis balls to strengthen his grip and to try to push out the swelling on his days off.
James described that Game 1 loss as "very emotional" for him.
"For a lot of different reasons," he said. "Understanding how important a game is on the road for our ball club, what [winning it] would have done for us. The way we played, the calls that were made throughout the course of that game, and I had emotions that the game was taken away from us. I had emotions that you just don't get an opportunity like this on the road against Golden State to be able to get a Game 1."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
They are just a bunch of overpaid thugs
excuses are the trademark of losers.
Written by a chick reporter. Are all sports writers now women, minorities or gays?
I think part of the problem is that the league is filled with three-star wannabe players who really don’t match up with the talent of the 1980s. You could take the 1985-86 Celtics and I think they could wipe out any team in the league today.
Hopefully he lost his temper over one of the numerous Trump successes.
Cry me a river. Such a poor sport. Gotta be a super liberal who has never helped anyone but himself.
Sports legends are more than just a guy who is bigger than everyone else. They have to be bigger inside. Todays millionaire thugs are bigger than their counterparts of the past, but only in shoe size.
Thug ball.
I just never liked it.
Gee, that’s a shame. I probably haven’t watched the NBA since I was a kid.
Made it harder to pat himself on the back.
Basketball fans out there? BEG your team to sign a contract with LeBron. Lots of revenue and publicity comes with his show. We'll be so glad you did. <^..^>
When you win, say little. When you lose, say less.
I actually want to like LeBron. He’s never been in trouble off the court. He married his high school girlfriend and mother of his children. He has some sense of loyalty, retuning to his hometown.
But his temperament makes him hard to like. Commentators rave over how much he’s accomplished with so little supporting talent, but it’s largely his fault he has no supporting talent.
When LeBron returned to Cleveland, they had the best collection of young talent and draft picks, but he didn’t want to play with and and help develop young talent. So they traded it all away, so he could play with Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love and a bunch of aging hand-picked LeBron buddies.
Kevin Love has put up with LeBron and produced his share, despite continual belittling by LeBron. Kyrie Irving decided he couldn’t take it anymore and left for Boston. J. R. Smith, who threw away game 1, was hand-picked by LeBron.
They brought in one of the best coaches in the world in David Blatt, but LeBron decided he didn’t want to be coached and forced Cleveland to fire him.
Over the last two summers, if LeBron had said “I’m committed to staying in Cleveland”, they could have had any number of talented players who would have signed for a discount to come compete for championships, but LeBron makes no commitments and hints he might leave for greener pastures at any time.
Cleveland gutted their roster mid-season yet again to try to find a group of players who would mesh with LeBron, to no avail.
Now the next two months are going to be “The Decision XVII” (maybe it just seems like 17 times he’s played the drama queen in the off season). But where is he going to go? Why would Golden State want him when they’re already the best team and have great chemistry? If you were Philadelphia, would you gut your roster of great young talent and sacrifice the next decade so LeBron can have one or two more runs? Same for Boston, but moreso, because Brad Stevens is the straw that stirs the Celtics drink and LeBron has already proven he won’t permit a strong coach to control the game. If he goes to Houston, can they play with three balls so Chris Paul, James Hardin and LeBron can all be happy?
He’s the clearly best player in the world, but Golden State has shown that it’s much better to have the best team than the best player.
Hard to compare different eras. I'm not a Lebron fan, but the guy can play - and not just because he's big. He's huge, but can dribble, move, and shoot like a point guard. I think the league is full of great athletes, but they don't play the kind of ‘shut you down’ defense teams like the Pistons or Bulls used to. The game seems less tactical and thoughtful now.
Great assessment!
What an a$$! Glad that he is never going to be a guest in the WH. What other kind of job can you be paid millions $$$$ for and have your employers look the other way when you put a championship in jeopardy by you own recklessness.
Waaaaaaa.....I lost a basketball game......Waaaaaaa
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