LeBron James has been an absolute monster during the NBA Finals averaging 36.6 points, 12.4 rebounds and 8.8 assists through five games against the Golden State Warriors. During game 5 James put up a triple-double of 40 points, 14 rebounds ad 11 assists. No player has had a 40 point triple-double since Jerry West. There’s one other thing West did that James might end up doing as well.
In 1969 Jerry West won the Finals MVP award despite the Los Angeles Lakers losing to Bill Russell and the Boston Celtics in 7 games.
There’s been talk that LeBron deserves the Finals MVP honors as well. With the Warriors up 3-2 in the series and the chance to close it out tonight in Cleveland during game 6, LeBron could end up repeating the precedent set by West but James doesn’t want that to happen.
“Wouldn’t feel good”, James said. “Here to win team prize, not an individual prize.”
While he still resents not winning the league MVP award, which went to Stephen Curry, James says he wouldn’t feel right winning the Finals MVP if the Cavaliers didn’t win the championship.
