LeBron James, in his sixth consecutive NBA Finals, leads the Cleveland Cavaliers in a rematch with defending champions Golden State starting on Thursday night at the Oracle Arena (UAE+1 05:00), but this time the star has a healthy supporting cast.
Two-time NBA MVP Stephen Curry sparks the Warriors’ quest for a title repeat against four-time MVP “King” James, who is trying to bring Cleveland a major sports crown for the first time since the 1964 NFL Browns.
“Our city deserves it. Our fans deserve it,” James said. “But that gives us no sense of entitlement. We’ve still got to go out and do it, be as great as we can every night.”
Last year, Cavaliers forward Kevin Love missed nearly all of the playoffs and injury-nagged guard Kyrie Irving broke a kneecap in the championship series opener.
A superman effort by James – the first man to lead the Finals in all three major statistics with averages of 35.8 points, 13.3 rebounds and 8.8 assists – couldn’t keep the Warriors from taking the best-of-seven series in six games.
“It’s definitely a different feeling,” James said. “I didn’t appreciate last year, what we were able to accomplish. Knowing Kev was out and Ky was dealing with injuries from the first round. I just didn’t appreciate getting to the Finals.
“Having our team at full strength, and the way I feel personally, I appreciate this moment, to be a part of it once again.”
James and reserve team-mate James Jones are the first players to reach six straight NBA Finals since legendary Bill Russell and the Boston Celtics ended a run of eight consecutive titles half a century ago.
James and the Cavs were swept by San Antonio in the 2007 finals and three years later he departed for Miami.
The Heat lost the 2011 and 2014 finals and won the 2012 and 2013 NBA titles before James returned home vowing to make the Cavs a champion.
Blocking their path are Curry, 3-point sharpshooter Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala, last year’s NBA Finals MVP after the Warriors won the last three games when he started.
But this year, the Warriors have battled playoff injuries – Curry missing two games with an ankle sprain and two weeks with a right knee sprain – and enter the finals after three must-win triumphs over Oklahoma City with only two days off.