In case you haven’t heard, the Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers are playing a basketball game in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Saturday. Things might get a bit awkward between the two teams, what with LeBron James having switched teams and all. But are there any hard feelings between the players?
Most of the comments we have heard from either side indicate that Saturday’s game will be business as usual. LeBron admitted that it will be “special” seeing his former teammates for the first game of the 2014-2015 season, but he said the Cavs are in Rio to work. Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade pretty much said the same.
One thing we know is that the Cavs and Heat have not been hanging out together in their free time. Is that a coincidence? Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com doesn’t seem to think so:
But as far as their social calendars go this week in Brazil, they might as well be on separate coasts.
Perhaps members of the opposing delegations will run into each other at a restaurant, club or tourist attraction. But it sure sounds like any such fraternization would be by chance. For as much as the players on both sides want to downplay it, there’s no missing the chill running between these two teams right now.
Windhorst noted that LeBron and D-Wade have been friends for years and used to meet up with each other when they were in the same city before James signed with the Heat in 2010. Perhaps they would still do that if they weren’t in a different country with their teammates.
“I’m still cool with all those guys,” LeBron said this week.
“There’s no hard feelings,” Bosh agreed.
There may be no hard feelings, but there is probably a little bit of tension. Bosh said earlier this week that he has not spoken to LeBron since the two were teammates. Considering they were both at Wade’s wedding, that means they must have made an effort to avoid each other. Perhaps the two teams are doing the same in Rio.
