LeBron James has returned to Cleveland to be the Cavaliers’ savior.
If the Miami Heat had won three more games in the NBA playoffs last season, though, the Cavs might have had to look elsewhere.
In an interview with CNN’s Rachel Nichols that’s set to air Friday, LeBron hinted that his future might have looked different had the Heat captured a third straight NBA title this summer.
“It’s a greater chance, for sure,” James told Nichols, via the South Florida Sun Sentinel. “I mean, it would be hard to leave back-to-back-to-back championships and try to go for four. But, obviously, you really can’t live and think of what may have happened. For me, I’ve always been a person kind of live in the moment.”
James, of course, left Cleveland for South Beach in 2010 to team up with Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade with the goal of winning multiple NBA championships. The Heat accomplished that goal in 2012 and 2013 but were sent home in five games by the San Antonio Spurs in the 2014 Finals.
“I understand what it takes to get there,” James added. “I understand what it takes to win. It’s so difficult. It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life.”
With Bosh and Wade now both in their 30s, LeBron likely thought that task would become even more difficult after the Heat’s deflating Finals loss to the Spurs. As for his future, James has adamantly said he isn’t going anywhere after returning to Cleveland. While that might be the case, they’d better get him a ring soon.
Photo via Andrew Weber/USA TODAY Sports Images
