LeBron James says Game 1 loss was one of the toughest of his career

Cleveland’s deflating loss in Game 1 of the NBA Finals was on a level of its own, even for a player who has been through as much as LeBron James has.

Speaking with reporters on Saturday, the Cavaliers star called Thursday’s defeat one of the toughest losses of his NBA career but expressed optimism heading into Sunday’s Game 2. He also said that the poked eye he suffered in the game was feeling a lot better, per Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated.

LeBron James called Game 1 of the NBA Finals one of the "toughest losses of his career" and a "tough 24 hours" after, but he "feels excited about the opportunity to be better, be great" now.

— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpearsESPN) June 2, 2018

Cavaliers forward LeBron James says he is taking eye drops and antibiotics to aid him with his poked eye injury suffered in Game 1 and says his eye "feels a lot better."

— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpearsESPN) June 2, 2018

James has, of course, played in the league for 15 years and seen his fair share of devastating defeats, including five times losing in the Finals. But coming within a JR Smith brain cramp of stealing Game 1 from a heavily-favored all-time team like the Warriors on their home floor is probably unprecedented, even for James. Now we wait to see how he and the Cavs respond on Sunday.