Cleveland Cavaliers coach David Blatt chuckled when he heard about LeBron James claiming to be okay with coming off the bench if it helped the Cleveland Cavaliers.
“No. No. He’s doing fine where he is,” Blatt said. “He’s doing quite fine.”
James had told the Northeast Ohio Media Group this week that he’s committed to winning so much that he would be willing to not start.
“For me being the leader of the team, it doesn’t matter. Whatever this team needs in order for this team to win, I‘ll come off the bench and I’m serious,” James said. “I’ll come off the bench. If it helps our team, that’s what it’s about, man.”
James, 30, is averaging 26.3 points, 7.4 assists, and 5.5 rebounds this season in 40 games, of which he’s started all of them. James has only played in a game he hasn’t started once in his career.
After starting January 1-5 without James, who was injured, the Cavs have gone 10-1 since his return, and haven’t lost since January 13.
James is still playing a lot of minutes, most games logging at least 36 minutes.
James told the media group that the Cavs have embraced a team mentality.
“It’s about a team,” James said. “How we all fit together, how the five guys on the court fit together, how the eight guys or ten guys on the bench help the guys that’s on the floor and so on and so on. Sacrifice is the biggest word in team sports, but it’s not about saying it, it’s about doing it as well. It’s about living it.”
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