Cavs' LeBron James on Finals MVP win or lose: 'I'm OK with whatever'
LeBron James did not want to get into the Finals MVP debate on Saturday
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2 min read
There is a credible argument to be made that LeBron James should win Finals MVP regardless of what happens in Game 7 on Sunday. Through six games in the NBA Finals, James is averaging 30.2 points, 11.3 rebounds, 8.5 assists, 2.2 blocks and 2.7 steals while shooting 51.4 percent and 40 percent from the 3-point line. With the Cleveland Cavaliers facing elimination, James produced two of the most marvelous Finals performances in NBA history.
His Game 5 line: 41 points, 16 rebounds, seven assists, three blocks, three steals, two turnovers in 43 minutes, 16-30 FG, 4-8 3PT, 5-8 FT.
His Game 6 line: 41 points, eight rebounds, 11 assists, three blocks, four steals, one turnover in 43 minutes, 16-27 FG, 3-6 3PT, 6-8 FT.
James came fairly close to becoming the second player in NBA history to win Finals MVP on a losing team last year. He received four of the 11 votes, and the winner, Golden State Warriors swingman Andre Iguodala, received the other seven. Jerry West won Finals MVP in 1969, the first year it was awarded, when his Los Angeles Lakers lost to the Boston Celtics in seven games.
On Saturday, a reporter asked James for his thoughts on the possibility of taking home the award, win or lose. James did not offer much of an opinion on the matter.
"Oh, listen, at the end of the day, I go out every single night and give everything I've got to the game," James said. "The game has always given back to me. So I'm OK with whatever."
The reporter followed up, asking if he thought that the Finals MVP should always be given to someone on the winning team.
"Last time I answered the question about MVP, it didn't go that well for me, so I'm not going to do it," James laughed. "Yeah, I'm not going to do it. I'm not going to do it again. I'm not. I will not. Thanks."
James was referring to his comments about the regular-season MVP award, which went to Warriors guard Stephen Curry. James said that Curry deserved the award, but said that there was a difference between the most valuable player and the best one. He was not intending to take a verbal shot at Curry, but that's how it was interpreted.
Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith, on the other hand, never has a problem sharing his thoughts on these things. On Saturday he said, if players from losing teams are eligible, James would be on the verge of earning his second straight award.
"Oh, he should have gotten that last year, if that's the case," Smith said. "It's just a matter of -- I guess it's based on who wins. But I believe he could. But we'll try to be on the winning side of that. If we win and Steph gets it, I don't care. It doesn't matter."
Even if Curry puts in a monster performance in Game 7, it's hard to imagine him winning Finals MVP in a loss. The way that this series has gone, though, James has to be a serious candidate either way.
