LeBron James is in the midst of his best statistical year to date in his 15th NBA season. And, as the regular season comes to an end, James is in prime position to play all 82 games for the first time his career.
Despite James’ outstanding season, he insists that playing in all 82 games is a media-driven narrative and not something he set out to do, Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com relays. The Cavaliers’ star said he simply wants to put himself and the team in the best position and if healthy, he feels he can achieve that goal.
“My plan is to play one game at a time and see how I feel after that game . . . I didn’t come into the season, saying, ‘OK, we’re going to play 82 games this season,’ but my plan is to be as healthy as I can, work on my body, train my body every day to be available for my teammates every game and if that allows me to play tonight, as I am, then let’s go,” James said.
James, 32, is averaging 27.4 PPG, 9.1 APG, and 8.7 RPG through 77 games with five games left.
Check out more Cavaliers notes below:
- A lot has been made of how James’ strong presence in Cleveland makes him a coach-type figure. Ken Berger of Bleacher Report delves into James’ basketball IQ and how in tune the superstar is with his team and coaching staff. While James is a vocal leader, he is not trying to undermine his coaches when he’s on the court. “That’s just who I am,” James said. “I feel like I’m an extension of our coaching staff. I take their commands and try to give them to our players out there on the floor. Just trying to see the game in multiple ways.”
-
Head coach Tyronn Lue has been away from the Cavs for health reasons, but has recently returned to the team. Dave McMenamin of ESPN tweets that Lue, who is expected to resume his head coaching duties soon, was at Cleveland’s shootaround on Tuesday.
- Sharpshooter Kyle Korver, who hadn’t played since March 19 due to injuries and the death of his brother, returned to the team for Tuesday’s win against the Raptors, tweets Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com.
James credits the Navy Seal working with him on his back for his improved health. He says he’s showing he’s a team leader by not missing any games.
It has been said Popovich would like to have LeBron. He told LeBron to keep speaking up. I read Pop’s talking so much this year is his way of recruiting LeBron. LeBron for Kawhi would be good for both teams if Gilbert could get Kawhi to sign an extension.
They said on ESPN don’t look for the Spurs to take offers on Kawhi until he’s said no on an extension. He said not to long ago he wants to be a Spur for life.
ESPN also said Lebron was going to the Knicks back in 2010……
Why would Lebron want to go to the West with the Warriors and Rockets in his way to Finals? To play for a coach? He wouldn’t go there if Kawhi is not on the same team.
I’d say chances are Kawhi stays put. The Spurs wouldn’t be able to get what they want.
For LeBron. First, he would go to Spurs. He likes Popovich. Second. I don’t think he’ll want to stay in Cleveland if Love isn’t there. The Cavs stink without Love. I say LeBron signs for one year again. If Love leaves next year, so will LeBron.
Going out west would be best for LeBron’s legend. The stats he has so far have been against the easiest competition. LeBron needs to show he’s just as good in the west as he is in the east.
Lebron is about winning championships, he has a better chance in the East. And Love is under contract for 2 more years.
And Lebron doesn’t need to show anything, he’ll go down as one of the greatest all time whether he stays in Cleveland or not.
Thomas that’s BS. So Jordan didn’t go out west. Does that make him less a player than he was?
Maybe you haven’t watched the Cavs and Warriors series the last 3 years. If the Warriors had Durant 2 years ago, LeBron would be 0-3. The Cavs didn’t have anyone hurt last year and they got tore up bad. The Warriors are almost healed. They may not beat the Rockets anyway, Cavs either. The east was the dominant conference when Jordan played. Boston, Detroit, and Chicago were lethal. If you want to get started on M.J. and LeBron, go to last weeks ESPN article on the 100 most influential players in NBA history and I’ll talk to you. LeBron was 2nd, Magic, Wilt Chamberlein, Kareem , Oscar Robertson, Julius Erving, Larry Bird, and Steph Curry. The guys doing it were old enough to see them all play. You can’t just say I only want to include the guys playing right now because I’m not old enough to see these other guys. It doesn’t work that way. Like I’ve said. It doesn’t matter if LeBron plays in the east or west, he’s not going to beat the Warriors with durant or Rockets with CP3.
Well that settles it….ESPN wrote an article so it must be gospel
The Spurs would have no trouble agreeing to trade for LeBron, and LeBron would do it. He’s always wanted to play for Pop. But Dan Gilbert tried to get Paul George last summer, but he wanted him to sign an extension. Gilbert sees what’s happening to OKC. He wouldn’t trade for Kawhi unless he signed an extension. I think Kawhi will sign an extension in San Antonio. He has said he wants to be a Spur for life. Kawhi wouldn’t like living in Cleveland. LeBron wouldn’t be here if he didn’t grow up here!
Players say a lot of things and then do the opposite. You’re missing the point, Lebron wants to win championships…going West means he has to get by Golden State and Houston….staying in the East (whether it be Cleveland or Philly) gives him the best shot to get to Finals. No one knows what he’ll do this Summer, but going to San Antonio makes little sense…so he supposedly wants to play for Pop….doubt he’ll give up a shot at rings to play for a coach.
Thomas. Where do you get this crap that Kawhi wouldn’t like living in Cleveland? Where do you get this crap that LeBron wouldn’t be in Cleveland had he not grown up there? (he didn’t. he grew up in Akron.)
And why do all the players that played in Cleveland enjoyed playing in Cleveland? I’ll give you one you may remember. Larry Nance. How about Austin Carr? I could name a ton of people. One that absolutely loved it was Shaq.
Come on man. You’re off the chart hatred of a place is showing big time.
Sorry dude. They say Cleveland is the place quarterbacks come to die. LeBron came back because Cleveland hadn’t won a championship for so long. Cleveland is old and dirty. Johnny Manziel lived where I live, and J.R. does too. Several of the Browns do. They don’t want to live on the east side. Before LeBron came back, why did the Cavs have the worst record in NBA history? Nobody wanted to play here. LeBron wouldn’t have come back if Gilbert didn’t get Love. It doesn’t matter, Kawhi is 100% not coming to Cleveland. He’s from California. Love and LeBron both have homes in L.A. for the offseason. That should tell you something. I’ve been to places besides Cleveland. Us outsiders know.
Sure you have…..
And I’m proud of it.
Good to see Korver out there again. I bet he’d really like to get a mulligan with his Finals. Hood is really taking a step forward on the Cavs this past week. Becoming that 3rd scorer on a nightly basis and a 2nd scorer when Love is out.
Jose Calderon started when the Cavs had their 18 game winning streak. George over-the-Hill didn’t play tonight and Calderon had 17 points. Jose should be starting.
I believe I read that Kawhi and LBJ are friends. Maybe he can force his way to the Cavs like CP did to get to the Rockets. Considering he only has 1-more year before he’s a FA, would the Nets pick and hood be enough to get the deal done?
Wouldn’t meet salary cap guidelines. Not possible.
The trade would have to include JR, Thompson and probably someone else to match salary. If he really wanted to be traded to the Cavs, they’d find a way to make it work
I don’t think you’re being realistic. No way, no how Pop would let that happen. Kawhi and LeBron play the same position anyway. Getting Pop to take J.R, for Kawhi is way way out there!!!!
1. Pop makes that trade if he thinks Kawhi doesn’t want to play in San Antonio or he’s gone senile.
2. Kawhi and LeBron can but do not have to play the same position. bc LeBron can and has played every position. He’s done it on every level including the Olympics and during this season. Plus, if a coach wanted to go big, they play Kawhi at the SG and LeBron at the SF. If they want to go big, they move down a notch with Kawhi at SF and James at PF.
3. Ohiodevil didn’t say the trade was for JR Smith. He said the trade would have to “INCLUDE” Jr Smith plus others.
If a player wants out, they will find a way to make it happen. JR’s salary is the only reason he’s in the trade. If Kawhi says “I want out of San Antonio and only place I’ll go is Cleveland”, guess what…they’ll make the trade happen….and most likely JR would be waived/bought out like many other players have before him.
Kawhi doesn’t want out. He said he wants to be a Spur for life. Do you honestly think Pop would let Kawhi go if he wanted to stay. You’re not being realistic.
That’s your opinion……
When’s the last time you talked to Kawhi? He went public a month ago saying he wanted to be a Spur for life for what it’s worth. It went out nationally.
When did you speak with him? Let me guess, you guys are buddies and had dinner with Z, JR and Peyton Manning when you lived in Indy? For someone who claims to “read a lot”, you’ve missed the countless times players have said they want to be in place x for their career, only to leave.
As a matter of fact I did speak with Peyton when I lived in Indy. Where you live I know you don’t get to talk to any of the athletes. A friend of mine had dinner with J.R. Smith at Popeyes in North Olmstead. So there turkey. LOL. In the old days all players played their entire career with one team. The internet calls what LeBron and Durant are doing as buying championships. From your comments I can tell you are not well educated. I’ve read what Kawhi said. I’m beginning to wonder if you can read!
Like I said I think he’ll stay 1 more year and leave when Love leaves. It doesn’t matter if LeBron plays in the east or the west, he’s not going to beat Golden State as long as Durant stays there, or Houston as long as CP3 stays there. The Cavs chance at a championship left when Kyrie left and LeBron knows it. The Cavs backcourt can’t play with the Warriors or Rockets backcourt. If LeBron wants another championship, he might have to find a way to go to Golden State or Houston. A frontcourt of Lamarcus, Pau, and LeBron would be as good as what the Cavs have. Like NFL players don’t want to go to Green Bay even with Aaron Rodgers there, NBA players don’t want to come to Cleveland. Because of the salary cap, they can’t anyways. This summer I don’t think is the one you have to worry about, I think it’s next summer. LeBron came back because of Love, and I think he’ll leave with Love. Everybody knows LeBron is year to year.
Love has 2 more years on his contract after this one
He has an option year!
No he doesn’t! For someone who “reads a lot” you are wrong a lot. He signed the MAX 5 year deal and cannot be a free agent until after the 19-20 season.
link to spotrac.com
Don’t think Spotrac has it right here. Love’s deal was reported to include a 2019/20 player option when it was signed, and every other salary site lists that option.
Yes you are right….maybe Thomas got his glasses for that part
You aren’t worth wasting my breath on. I am 60. I graduated from Purdue in 1980. I worked at Ford for 20 years. I was in Indy the entire time Peyton Manning played there. Those are my friends, and Indy is my real home. You don’t want to believe I’m 60 or anything I’ve said, we can stop writing.
All I can do is go off the stuff you post….which usually has little merit or thought behind it. And I am glad you can be anyone you want to be online….so no, I don’t believe you nor do I care.
My posts are accurate from a lot of people. You are a lowly Cavs fan who won’t listen to anybody. My posts come from sources that are widely read.
LOL “widely read”….you mean ESPN? Like I said, if they post it, then it must be true.
I read ESPN, CBS, NBC, Sporting News, Sports Illustrated, local syndications such as Cleveland Plain Dealer, L.A. Times, New York Times, Boston Globe, Chicago Tribune, Indianapolis Star, Basketball Insiders, Basketball Reference, etc. What can you read? Later. I have better things to do than waste my time on you!
Maybe get some glasses then, because you are sure wrong a lot
Can’t wait for LeBron and Love to go to L.A. so they can live in their homes. I’ll start rooting for the Lakers!!!