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Report: Miami Heat Think LeBron James Checked Out During 2014 NBA Finals

Trey Daubert / NBA / February 3, 2018

LeBron James Heat 2014 NBA Finals — LeBron James, who spent four years with the Miami Heat, decided to return home to Cleveland after losing the 2014 NBA Finals. (Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports)

Report: Miami Heat Think LeBron James Checked Out During 2014 NBA Finals

LeBron James is regarded as the best basketball player on the planet but there is no question that he is Charmin Ultra soft. LeBron has been known to check out or turn the switch on and off depending on the moment. Recently, a report has surfaced that claims that James ‘checked out’ when the Heat fell behind during the 2014 NBA Finals. Of course, LeBaby James would go on to leave Miami for Cleveland just months later.

Dan Le Batard of ESPN had the following to say:

“Final season with the Heat, LeBron James, the Heat organization believed, knew he was leaving and checked out on the Finals. It looked like he was trying. The stat sheet looked like he was trying. But the Miami Heat believed that he checked out and was no longer trying.”

This report frankly makes a ton of sense. Remember when LeBron just flat out quit in 2008 when his Cavaliers lost to the Celtics in the second round. When things don’t get LeBron’s way, he just quits, there’s no denying that. For a player who is as naturally gifted as James, it’s not surprising that he lacks mental toughness considering everything has been easy his entire life.

James did average 28.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.0 steals per game during the 2014 Finals but the Heat looked lifeless during the series losing in 5 games. LeBron also left game one of the series with “cramps”. Again, I’ve never heard of a player sitting out of a game with cramps but that just shows that LeBron obviously is Charmin Ultra soft.

James is no in a similar situation with Cleveland where it appears that he has frankly checked out this season. Cleveland sits at third place in the weaker Eastern Conference, just one game ahead of his former Miami Heat team. In reality, there’s no excuse for Cleveland to sit in third place in the East but constant turmoil and chaos is the price you pay when LeBron is on your team. Just ask Kyrie Irving why he wanted out, LeBron is difficult to deal with.