With the season now over, the focus turns to LeBron James and his pending free agency decision. James can opt out of the final year of his contract and hit unrestricted free agency for the third time. He has until June 29 to make a decision.
Following the Cavaliers‘ loss to the Warriors in Game 4 of the NBA Finals, which completed a sweep of Cleveland, James discussed his pending decision, ESPN’s Dave McMenamin writes. While James has not made up his mind, he said input from his family will be a major factor this summer.
“The one thing that I’ve always done is considered, obviously, my family,” James said. “Understanding especially where my boys are at this point in their age. They were a lot younger the last time I made a decision like this four years ago. I’ve got a teenage boy, a preteen and a little girl that wasn’t around as well. So sitting down and considering everything, my family is a huge part of whatever I’ll decide to do in my career, and it will continue to be that. So I don’t have an answer for you right now as far as that.”
James has left Cleveland once before, signing a deal in 2010 with the Heat, where he won two championships in four seasons. The 33-year-old returned to the Cavaliers prior to the 2014/15 season, leading the organization to a championship the following year.
Check out more news to come out of the NBA Finals below:
- As we relayed earlier, James suffered a self-inflicted injury to his right hand after he punched a whiteboard out of frustration following the Cavaliers’ loss in Game 1.
- After battling some health issues throughout the season, Cavaliers head coach Tyronn Lue intends to return next year, Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com writes. “Yeah, I do,” Lue said of his intentions. “I had some tough problems going on throughout the course of the season, and … I probably could have folded myself, but I wasn’t going to do that.” Lue previously told ESPN’s Rachel Nichols that was treated for anxiety this season.
- Kevin Durant became the 11th player to win two NBA Finals Most Valuable Player awards, per The Associated Press. With back-to-back championships and Finals MVPs to his credit, Durant’s focus will now turn to his contract situation. He intends to remain with the Warriors, but will likely sign a new deal.
- Stephen Curry has two regular season MVPs to his credit but Durant has taken home that honor the last two NBA Finals. However, Curry prioritizes the team success over his individual accolades, Mark Medina of the Mercury News writes. “K.D.’s been amazing these last two years, especially in The Finals, and so deserving of back-to-back Finals MVPs,” Curry said. “I’m going to be his biggest fan in there with what he’s able to do. I think the biggest thing we appreciate in the locker room is, again, what everybody brings to the table and we kind of unlock the greatness out of each other.”
- One of the most visibly excited players to win his first championship was the Warriors’ Nick Young, per Alysha Tsuji of USA TODAY. ‘Swaggy P’ only played 38 combined minutes in the NBA Finals but he helped the team off the bench during the regular season. “I went from getting snitched on to putting a ring on!” Young told reporters.
- Warriors veteran David West said the team’s championship victory is even more remarkable given various behind-the-scenes issues the public is not aware of, tweets The Undefeated’s Marc J. Spears. “Y’all got no clue. No clue. That tells you about this team that nothing came out,” West said.
- Warriors head coach Steve Kerr has now coached the club to three championships in four seasons. We noted earlier that Warriors ownership believes Kerr will sign an extension with the team this summer.
Nick Young has a ring and life only continues to get better
He looked in terrible shape. Not really like a basketballer. He should look for more action next year.
He looked out of shape because he is out of shape. He doesn’t put the effort in during training and practice. He was benched because he simply couldn’t keep up with the warriors offense. I highly doubt the warriors bring him back.
Congrats great season warriors. And Cavs for pulling it off to make the finals after so much craziness during the season. NBA rocks!!! Our only issues are the Refs to be fare and equal to all players.
The refs are new, young. There’s a lot going on that doesn’t get talked about.
For instance, the old refs did not allow arguments on close calls but chatted with players a lot. The new refs don’t want to argue the OBVIOUS calls… and apparently want to review block/charge calls… But GSW was going to win regardless.
Crazy season it was. Very physical for James. Pretty physical series.
The refs help Cleveland in every way imaginable. How many times did LeBron travel during the finals? Give me a break. This was the most even the officiating has been in the last 4 years. So when the Cavs don’t get every b.s. call they want that means the refs blew it for the Cavs? What a joke.
Yeah….you’re about the only person alive that thinks the Cavs benefited from the officiating. Obviously, bad calls aren’t the reason for a sweep. GSW were the better team. But what you said is laughable.
I’m not sure you got my point. Someone said Lebron, your fingers took over.
Players got confused this year on what could be argued because the unspoken rules were changed, and nobody official even admitted there was a change. Durant had many technicals.
Vangundy had some points about how rules for arguing vary by person.
James does not travel any more than anyone else but he does get to argue more visually, arms extended.
Ya true they need to correct the calls like when a shooter flops into defender for a foul should be a offense foul.
lol
What about all the calls that Curry & KD get, come on they are the refs favorites.
Lebron’s illegal extended forearm thrusts when driving to the basket FINALLY got called on him…..too bad for probably the best player of our era……He was up against a full team…….aside from occasional bursts from Love, the Cavs didn’t bring much to the table to help him.
Hood finally got untracked. He made some money in gm3.
But more was needed from Hill & Clarkson. Ex-Lakers don’t seem to do well elsewhere. Altman should never have dealt with them… That’s where James and Paul can get together, unless James can do signandtrades.