Heat president Pat Riley was furious when LeBron James bolted Miami and returned to the Cavaliers in 2014 but now feels James ‘did the right thing.’ That’s one of the revelations by Riley to author Ian Thomsen in his new book “The Soul of Basketball: The Epic Showdown between LeBron, Kobe, Doc and Dirk that Saved the NBA” which was excerpted in a Jackie MacMullen story for ESPN.
Riley came to that conclusion slowly, as he fumed for months over James’ decision to go back to Cleveland. He ultimately understood that James would never be truly accepted in his home state again unless he won a championship there.
“My beautiful plan all of a sudden came crashing down,” Riley told Thomsen. “That team in ten years could have won five or six championships. But I get it. I get the whole chronicle of [LeBron’s] life. While there may have been some carnage always left behind when he made these kinds of moves, in Cleveland and also in Miami, he did the right thing.”
Other notable revelations in the interview included:
- James hinted early in his first Heat season during a meeting among Riley and the Big Three of Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade and James that he wanted Riley to return to coaching and replace Erik Spoelstra. “I remember LeBron looking at me, and he said, ‘Don’t you ever get the itch?’ I said, ‘The itch for what?’ He said, ‘The itch to coach again?’ I said, ‘No, I don’t have the itch.’ He didn’t ask any more questions, and I didn’t offer any more answers. But I know what it meant, and I always go back and wonder about what he was thinking at that time. “
- The public outcry after James’ announcement that he would be “taking my talents to South Beach” shook up James when he headed to Miami. “That night at three in the morning we met him at the airport. … They got off the plane, and I remember walking right up to LeBron. He was worn-out. He was just worn-out. He almost had tears in his eyes.”
- Riley had no contact with James until Game 7 the 2016 NBA Finals, when Riley texted him. “As soon as he hit the floor, I sent a text to him. I said, ‘Win this and be free.’ He never got back to me with a response.” Riley and James continue to be at odds, according to MacMullen.
I wonder if he received the text.
Message Failed to Send
LeBron at odds with Riley, suggested that Spo be fired, at odds with Gilbert, got Blatt fired, looked like he was going the same way with Lue, asked for a got Love, then spent two years trashing him, drove Kyrie out of town, makes all kinds of flipped comments that make him sound like a d_ck. You don’t hear a lot of ex-teammates stick up for him, even Kobe’s ex-teammates (save for Shaq) talk about how good a guy he was.
LBJ, great talent, and World Class jerk. Just wait until he’s done playing, watch what happens when ex-teammates and staff don’t have to hold back.
Actually Kobe and Shaq are even friends now
Time heals most wounds
Kyrie left because he wanted to win on his own and got tired of being second to Lebron.
7 straight finals, enough said.
Lol hater
Kobe wasn’t exactly a great guy when he was playing either.
Yes, hard to believe how Kobe gets held up as someone to compare to person-wise.
Meanwhile Lebron was a fun-loving guy his first stint in Cleveland and wanted everyone to have a good time.
Also most of what @greg said was rubbish. The article just got done saying James seemed surprised Riley did not want to coach, and greg turns it into that Lebron suggested that Spoelstra be fired. It’s right up there on the same page. Reading comprehension.
And if Lebron wanted Lue fired, firstly he would be like everyone else in Cleveland, and secondly it would likely happen. Oh but wait, he’s still there, so bang goes greg’s take. I’ll quit there
Lebron is the best to ever do it, best talent the NBA has ever seen.
Lebron is one of the best players in NBA history but man does he have some serious maturity issues.
Agreed, as I said, great player, one of the all-time best, but as Reflect said, maturity issues. Prima Donna.