Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James has his detractors, but there's no denying his team-first attitude and his leadership. A report surfaced Monday about how James gave his teammates gifts before the start of the 2015 NBA Finals, following the high praise NBA great Shaquille O'Neal had for James's leadership.
Without stars Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love, James practically willed his team to a Game 2 victory Sunday night. He overcame defensive schemes and questionable no-calls from officials to push his team to a 95-93 win and even the series against Golden State at one game apiece.
Forget James is playing in what could be the defining series of his legacy, a series in which he proves to the naysayers that he can take a team onto his shoulders and win without stars. Forget James is three games away from being the prodigal son who brought his hometown a championship. Even with all the accolades and the storylines hanging in the balance, a small act from James confirmed where his heart is: with his teammates.
After preaching to his teammates to stay the course prior to Thursday's Game 1, James made sure none of them left the meeting empty handed.
"But before they went their separates ways that night of the meeting, James had another surprise. He gave them all brand new Apple watches," Chris Haynes of Cleveland.com wrote Monday. "It was another way of displaying his appreciation for his guys."
When asked about the gifts, James told NEOMG: "I've been fortunate enough to work with some great partners and whatever I get, I like to share with my teammates. It's just my way of showing them that I care. That's it. It's not the first time and it won't be the last time."
First-year teammate J.R. Smith, who has a player option for next season, confirmed this wasn't the first time James had showered them with gifts.
"I don't know how he does it, but everyday it's something different," Smith said with a laugh. "Watches, sneakers, Beats (headphones), hoodies, book-bags," Smith said. "Man, I can't wait to come back next year. I want to see what we're getting next year."
Soon-to-be restricted free agent Tristan Thompson did the same.
"He's one hell of a teammate," Thompson said. "He takes care of his team. He takes care of us with Beats, Samsungs. Everything that he's part of that he can give for the team, he's done that all the time and it shows how much he cares for us."
All of this is a testament to James's leadership. While he may receive all the attention, he makes sure his teammates know his success is theirs.
"'Bron is the best teammate you can ask for, because on the court he's going to give you everything and off the court he's always going to be considerate and do whatever he can to show his gratitude," said James Jones, who also played with James in Miami.
That same leadership has the Cavaliers believing they can when a championship without two of their best players. The four-time league MVP followed up 44 points, 8 rebounds and 11 assists in Game 1 with 39 points, 16 rebounds and 11 assists in Game 2. He's proven time and again his willingness to do whatever it takes to win: From playing whatever on-court role necessary to win, to passing up the game-winning shot to an open teammate, to handing out gifts to remind his teammates they're as much a part of this team's title run as he is.
O'Neal, who already had four NBA rings when he played with James in the 2009-10 season, summed up James's on- and off-the-court leadership in one sentence: "It was the first time I didn't have to do anything."
