LeBron James learned from his "not six, not seven" press conference when he returned to Cleveland: "It won't be easy"
When LeBron James decided to embark on his second chapter with the Cleveland Cavaliers, he was cautious about keeping his emotions in check. Returning as a two-time champion, he understood the expectations, having made the Finals in all his years on the Miami Heat.
James had learned his lesson from the introductory press conference that the Heat held in 2010. At the time, he had boldly claimed to win more than six or seven championships in Miami. That's how he invited unnecessary scrutiny, which only worsened after the 2011 Finals loss to the Mavericks.
James was more mature and seasoned when he came back to the Cavaliers. Having been on both sides of the fence during his Miami tenure, he experienced a rollercoaster of emotions. As a result, he relied on a peaceful approach during his first press conference back in Cleveland.
"So I wept from crying tears of joy and tears of frustration. Two up, two down, so I know. I know it all. I know what it takes. I'm a guy whose expectations are still high because I believe in this team and what we can ultimately get to. But I also understand it won't be easy and we can't try to play November and get to June or May right now. We have to go November to December and the rest of the calendar year to even have a chance," said James, who admitted to being more patient than before.
A new Big Three with Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love
Deciding to go back home to deliver on his promise of delivering a championship, James ensured the Cavs had all the pieces needed to win. Blessed with a talent like Kyrie Irving, the front office almost went on a limb to trade for Kevin Love, sending Andrew Wiggins the other way.
Nonetheless, the Cavs had a new formidable Big Three, with expectations around them skyrocketing. Both Irving and Love were rising stars with high potential, making them a perfect fit next to James. No doubt, there were doubts about them meshing together as a unit, which was cleared very soon into the season.
Clinching the second seed in the East during the 2014-15 season, the Cavs made it to the Finals. They were among the favorites all year and now they had a historic chance of winning a title. Unfortunately for them, injuries ended up playing spoilsport with Love and Irving sitting out during the series against the Golden State Warriors. Bron couldn't do it all by himself and Cleveland lost in six games.Delivering on The Promise
Time was ticking for James in the next season, who was yet to deliver the chip for Cleveland. Finishing as the first seed in the East during the 2015-16 season, the Cavaliers faced a 73-9 Warriors team in a Finals rematch from last year.
Struggling initially, the Cavs ended up giving away a 3-1 lead to the Warriors. Not losing hope, they swung one of the greatest comebacks of all time, ending up winning the title. A surprise turn of events that erased the 52-year-old championship drought of Cleveland. Both Irving and Love were pivotal throughout, but James led the way as usual.
This is still the only time a team was able to turn around a 3-1 deficit in the Finals.This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 20, 2025, where it first appeared.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
5 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Highlights of the Nike Deal, Broadcast Partnerships, Kit Sponsorships, and Stadium Naming Rights
Explore the "Business of the NWSL 2025," a detailed report on the women's soccer league's media and sponsorship landscapes. Discover insights on $39.5M in league sponsorship, $60M in media rights, and $66.46M in team sponsorship. Learn about market viewership, team profiles, and social media metrics. Dublin, July 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "The Business of the National Women's Soccer League 2025" report has been added to offering. The main aims of this report is to highlight commercial landscape across NWSL. The report aims to break down the key commercial revenue streams for the league and its affiliated teams. It goes into detail on the key partnerships including its centralized rights with Nike, its four main US broadcasters, front-of-shirt rights, sleeve partnerships and stadium naming "Business of the NWSL 2025" report is part of the the analyst's 'Business of' series of sport competition profiles. The report takes a deep dive into the premier competition for women's domestic soccer in the United States. The report explores the biggest rights across the league, specifically looking at the main media and sponsorship rights attached to the NWSL, as well the main sponsorship rights and annual values of the 14 competing teams. The report also looks at market viewership, profiles individual teams and offers social media following comparisons against teams, other American sports leagues and other soccer NWSL stands to generate $39.5 million from league sponsorship this season. Home market media rights worth $60 million across four main broadcaster deals. Team sponsorship in the league worth $66.46 million in Highlights Overview of the media rights landscape. Global media and sponsor partners explored. Breakdown of the sponsorship deals including annual values. Individual team profiles. Team market comparison by sponsorship. Connected social media followers. Reasons to Buy Soccer is a growing sport in the United States as the country build towards jointly hosting (with Canada and Mexico) the 2026 men's FIFA World Cup . The NWSL, alongside the WNBA (basketball) is the most popular women's sports leagues in the United States and has produced many of the best players in the world over the past decade. Key Topics Covered: 1. Overview2. Media landscape3. League sponsorship landscape4. Kit supplier landscape5. Front-of-shirt landscape6. Sleeve landscape7. Back-of-shirt landscape8. Stadium naming rights landscape9. Team sponsorship overview10. Additional revenue & social media11. AppendixKey Data Tables Home market broadcasters Regional broadcasters International broadcasters NWSL ticket revenue For more information about this report visit About is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. CONTACT: CONTACT: Laura Wood,Senior Press Manager press@ For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./ CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
5 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Which Giants will make the cut? Here's our 53-man roster projection after Week 1 of camp
EAST RUTHERFORD − The New York Giants are jockeying for position at the many levels of the depth chart and training camp has only begun. Full pads are set to go on Monday morning in the Giants' fifth practice of the summer, and this represents an opportunity for many to drastically change perspective in the battle for jobs [and playing time]. Here is a position-by-position analysis of where the Giants stand with the chase for spots on the 53-man roster just heating up through a week of camp: OFFENSE (26) Quarterback (3) Russell Wilson Jameis Winston Jaxson Dart Breakdown: Nothing has changed here with Wilson the clear QB1. Dart has gotten most of the second-team reps, while Winston has made the most of his with solid play as well as demanding the standard be just as high for players who might be fighting for spots not on the active roster, but the practice squad. His presence as noticeable. Tommy DeVito has had limited chances, but he has looked good with those reps. He's likely still staring at a practice squad offer or heading elsewhere unless there is a significant injury. Running back (3) Tyrone Tracy Devin Singletary Cam Skattebo Breakdown: Tracy is the lead back and looks good. Will be interesting to see him when the run game starts getting work. Skattebo has been fantastic as a receiver, catching every pass thrown his way while working with the second and third teams. Singletary is solid and his reliability in pass protection is a plus. Turbo Miller has had a strong start to camp and will be fighting to force the Giants to keep four backs. His burst jumps out. Can he carve out a role on special teams and lock down a roster spot? Wide receiver (6) Malik Nabers Darius Slayton Wan'Dale Robinson Jalin Hyatt Ihmir Smith-Marsette Beaux Collins Breakdown: Special teams ace Bryce Ford-Wheaton had an inside track to a spot from this position until he tore his Achilles in Sunday's practice. It's a crushing blow for a third-year player who has shown flashes, but has been hit by bad injury luck in each of his three seasons. That potentially opens the door for another receiver. Undrafted rookie Beaux Collins has stood out with chances on the first and second teams with Russell Wilson, Jaxson Dart and Jameis Winston, so he gets the early nod. Dalen Cambre is another UDFA rookie who could have a path to replace Ford-Wheaton because of his special teams prowess in college at Louisiana. Another option: free agent Gabe Davis did visit the team in May and has strong bonds with Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen. Smith-Marsette has done well with his opportunities on offense and he is the kick returner. Tight end (4) Theo Johnson Chris Manhertz Daniel Bellinger Thomas Fidone Breakdown: I kept four tight ends here, but as expected, this could be a position that gives up a spot depending on a numbers' crunch elsewhere. A fifth in Greg Dulcich has had a strong start to camp. Bellinger and Manhertz have been relatively quiet, so it'll be interesting to see the physicality they can bring with the pads going on. Offensive line (10) LT Andrew Thomas LG Jon Runyan Jr. C John Michael Schmitz RG Greg Van Roten RT Jermaine Eluemunor T James Hudson T/G Marcus Mbow G Evan Neal G Jake Kubas G/T Joshua Ezeudu Breakdown: Thomas has started camp on the PUP list and he can be activated at any time, but don't expect the Giants to rush him. He's working with the training staff to make sure he's ready on road back from Lisfranc surgery. Rookie fifth rounder Marcus Mbow has emerged at left and right tackle with the second and third teams, and while James Hudson has been at left tackle with the 1s, if for some reason Thomas' return is slower than anticipated, it's possible Mbow gets even more of a look. John Michael Schmitz had a tough first week and needs to step up when the physicality increases. It's going to be interesting to watch Evan Neal at guard when the pads go on. DEFENSE (24) Defensive line (5) Dexter Lawrence Rakeem Nunez-Roches Roy Robertson-Harris Darius Alexander Elijah Chatman Breakdown: Nunez-Roches is going to get pushed by younger players such as Elijah Garcia, who has had a strong start to camp. Chatman gets the fifth spot for now, but the Giants have depth here and it'll be a roller coaster for all those competing for a spot here. All depends on the combinations, and don't forget Abdul Carter and Chauncey Golston can also play inside in rush packages. Edge (4) Brian Burns Kayvon Thibodeaux Abdul Carter Chauncey Golston Breakdown: Carter has been as advertised - maybe even better so early. Burns is so underrated and such a presence on this team. His production should catch up to that perception. Thibodeaux is off to a strong start as well. Golston rounds out this quartet and he's had his moments, too. Free agent signee Victor Dimukeje was injured while training away from the team, tearing his pectoral and landing on the PUP list to start camp. Inside linebacker (5) Bobby Okereke Micah McFadden Chris Board Darius Muasau Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles Breakdown: Okereke and McFadden are mainstays in the middle. Board and Muasau are core special teams players. Flanningan-Fowles is an addition from our initial projection; he's also a contributor on special teams. Cornerback (6) Paulson Adebo Tae Banks Dru Phillips Cor'Dale Flott Tre Hawkins III Korie Black Breakdown: Banks and Flott are battling for the starting job opposite Adebo, and so far, Flott appears to have the upper hand. It's early, however. Phillips is a potential game-changer at nickel. Nic Jones had a Pick 6 of Jaxson Dart on Day 1 and he's been pushing for bigger chances as Phillips' backup. He could threaten for a role, which could put Hawkins or Black in jeopardy if that continues. Safety (4) Jevon Holland Tyler Nubin Dane Belton K'Von Wallace Breakdown: The top of this position is set with Holland and Nubin. Both have made plays and gives the Giants their best safety tandem since Super Bowl XLVI with Antrel Rolle and Kenny Phillips. Belton has had a quiet start to camp after such a loud spring as a takeaway machine. Wallace was signed on the eve of camp, so he's working his way up the depth chart. Specialists (3) K Graham Gano P Jamie Gillan LS Casey Kreiter Breakdown: No reason to think anything has changed here. Jude McAtamney is still on track to be a second kicker on the practice squad as part of the International Pathway Program. This article originally appeared on NY Giants roster projection: Our prediction after Week 1 of camp
Yahoo
5 minutes ago
- Yahoo
How Greg Schiano built Rutgers football's infrastructure to adapt to changing landscape
As the wayward search for Rutgers' new athletics director appears to finally be close to an end, Greg Schiano's football program will begin training camp having been unaffected and undeterred by what transpired over the last year. The chaos that's engulfed the Rodkin Center hasn't moved across Sutphen Road to infiltrate the Hale Center. And that's not a coincidence. Schiano since he's been back has run his program in his vision with the personnel and infrastructure that he sees fit. As the landscape of college sports – especially college football – has evolved with Name, Image and Likeness, the transfer portal and now revenue sharing, that infrastructure has only become more important. It's also become bigger. But the freedom Schiano has to lead his program without interference has helped insulate it from an AD search that became a punchline nationally – its previous leading candidate, Brian Lafemina, according to NJ Advance Media pulled his name from consideration in recent weeks. The university has now zeroed in on Keli Zinn, the executive deputy director of athletics and chief operating officer at Louisiana State, according to reports. When asked about the long search last week in Las Vegas at Big Ten Media Days, Schiano said he hadn't spent much time worrying about the search. Had it affected anything? 'Not our operation,' said Schiano, who's beginning his sixth season since returning to Rutgers. More: Rutgers is targeting LSU administrator as next athletics director, per reports Rutgers football's infrastructure While it undoubtedly would help Schiano to have an athletics director who could help him raise funds – something he's never had during his second stint – it's not something that's stopping him. Schiano's program has increasingly started to look like an NFL organization. His two years as the head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2012 and 2013 gave him an up-close, inside look at what it needs. NFL organizations have college personnel and pro personnel to evaluate both groups of players. Schiano's program has groups to evaluate high school players and college players so it's ready to jump when anyone enters the portal. Schiano's been diligent about how he's built the operation. 'Certainly we need more people to help with evaluations but we've kind of reorganized our entire population,' Schiano said. 'My whole thing has always been measure twice and cut once. I don't want to just react, I'd rather be a little bit later and get it right than have to be the first out of gate. I don't want to be last but certainly don't need to be first. I've observed a lot of other people, what they've done. Things I think are good, things that are not. Certainly from my own experience I had an idea of how I wanted to do it.' 'Comfortable with the team we have' Schiano credited the team he's assembled to help lead it: Chief of Staff Kevin MacConnell, assistant general manager for finance Jordan Wolkstein, assistant general manager for personnel Eric Josephs, and assistant athletic director for football Will Gilkison, who helps run the ins and outs of program operations. Wolkstein's role helping to oversee contracts and compensation for players shows just how much college football has changed, but it's also a necessity. When it comes to paying players and roster construction to stay within a budget, that's another area Schiano's time in the NFL helped prepare him for. 'I think it helps a lot,' Schiano said. 'I think it just helps with the comfortability of dealing with finance as it ties to football. I think you have to some discipline. We've had some players that if we could've spent a little more, we could've probably gotten them. To me the most important thing is your own team. You're around them every day, you know who they are. So where you can't afford to make mistakes is on your own team. That's the one you should know. Every time you step outside your organization there's some unknown there.' Every year Schiano's program has evolved. Every year it's looked more and more like a pro organization to adapt to the changes in college football. He's built it in his vision. At some point Rutgers will hire an athletics director, but until it does operations inside the Hale Center continue to run smoothly. 'We really feel comfortable with the team that we have,' Schiano said. 'We do have to continue to strategically add people to build the infrastructure but I want to make sure they're the right people.' This article originally appeared on Rutgers football: Greg Schiano has built program to adapt to changes
