- LeBron James shut down his press conference abruptly when a reporter pressed him on the the bizarre play by JR Smith that cost the Cleveland Cavaliers a chance to win Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
- With the score tied, Smith appeared to think the Cavs were winning in the final seconds and did not attempt a potential game-winning shot.
- After the game, James was asked repeatedly about the play and what Smith was thinking.
- James eventually grew frustrated by the questions and walked out, saying to the assembled media, "be better tomorrow."
The Cleveland Cavaliers lost a heartbreaker in Game 1 of the NBA Finals thanks to a controversial foul change and a bizarre sequence in the final seconds in which it appeared that JR Smith forgot the score.
After the game, LeBron James grew frustrated by repeated questions about the Smith play as the media tried to determine what exactly Smith was thinking at the time.
Mark Schwarz, ESPN: From talking to him after the play, what's your reaction to it? What's your version?
LeBron James: What do you mean, "What's my version?"
Schwarz: Well, did he think the game was tied, or did he think you guys had it salted away?
James: How do I know that?
Schwarz: Or did you discuss it at all with him at the end of the play?
James: No, they asked me if I talked to JR about it. I said no already [LeBron explains the basics of the play and score] I thought we were all aware of what was going on. That's my view. I don't know what JR was thinking. I don't know the question you're trying to ask.
Schwarz: I'm just trying to see if you knew exactly what his state of mind was. Did he think you guys had it won or did you think he was trying to make a play? Are you not sure?
James: What do you mean "Am I not sure?" No, I don't know his state of mind.
Schwarz: Do you know that he knew the score?
James: [puts mic down and walks out]
This was already supposed to be LeBron's final question, but when it became clear that the question was not going to change, James got up and left.
As LeBron was walking out, he said to the gathered media, "be better tomorrow."
You can see the entire exchange here. LeBron leaves the press conference at the 1:10 mark.
More NBA Playoffs coverage:
- JR Smith commits horrible blunder in final 4 seconds of Game 1 of the Finals by forgetting the score and dribbling out the clock with the game tied
- Tyronn Lue and the NBA world are baffled by the controversial foul change on LeBron James in Game 1 of the Finals
- LeBron James takes immaculate care of his body, and the NBA world is in awe of it
- The controversial Kyrie Irving trade is once again taking center stage as the Cavs prepare for another Finals showdown with the Warriors
- LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers are gargantuan underdogs heading into the NBA Finals
- The biggest concern about the Rockets' radical strategy came back to haunt them at the worst possible time