The Golden State Warriors are now just three wins away from a second consecutive NBA championship. But there’s no schadenfreude over here, at least from team executive Jerry West.
West took some time on Saturday to defend Cavs forward LeBron James, who would drop to 2-5 all-time in the NBA Finals with another loss at the hands of the Warriors this year, against critics of his Finals record, per Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News.
Jerry West on critics of LeBron's Finals record: "That's the most ridiculous thing. If I were him, I'd want to strangle you guys."
— Stefan Bondy (@SBondyNYDN) June 4, 2016
Jerry West on LeBron: "I don't want to sound like Donald Trump but it's hard to believe that someone doesn't recognize that greatness."
— Stefan Bondy (@SBondyNYDN) June 4, 2016
The 78-year-old West can certainly empathize with James given the fact that he himself went just 1-8 in the Finals during his own playing career. There’s also definitely something to be said about even making all of those Finals appearances in the first place, especially in James’ case with the league now having about twice as many teams as it did back when West played. And just like how West was unfortunate in that his peak coincided with an all-time juggernaut in the Boston Celtics, James was beaten by some historically great teams (the San Antonio Spurs, these Warriors, etc.) in the Finals over the years as well.
While their Finals futility may disqualify them from any “greatest of all-time” discussions where we’re forced to pick nits about legacy, that doesn’t make James or West any less great. West wants to make sure that history doesn’t ever forget that.
Image Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports
H/T NBA Reddit
