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Is LeBron James getting the best out of his teammates by buying them presents? Before the NBA Finals even began, James gave each member of his team an Apple watch, and he did this despite being a spokesman for Samsung. It certainly seems like he is winning his team over with gifts; the Cleveland Cavaliers won Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Tuesday and put themselves two wins away from a title, and it wouldn’t surprise me if LeBron had another surprise waiting for his teammates before Game 4.
James is giving them the gift of his presence as well, and his average of 41 PPG thus far is truly inspiring. If he can continue along this path, then LeBron might even top Michael Jordan‘s 1993 NBA Finals scoring average of, you guessed it, 41 PPG. Will James and his crew be able to close things out in the next couple games? I’m not so sure, because the Golden State Warriors have yet to play solid basketball. Also, Stephen Curry and company can steal back home-court advantage by winning Game 4, and I’m betting they’ll be fully focused on the task at hand come Thursday. One thing remains absolutely certain. LeBron’s teammates appreciate his contributions both on and off the court.
“I don’t know how he does it, but every day it’s something different,” J.R. Smith said to the Northeast Ohio Media Group. “Watches, sneakers, Beats [headphones, which James also sells and is affiliated with Apple], hoodies, book bags. Man, I can’t wait to come back next year. I want to see what we’re getting next year.”
Smith sounds like he is a kid waiting perpetually on Christmas Eve. It is hard to blame him for getting excited about presents after all of the misery he endured in New York, but it bears asking this question: What will LeBron give his teammates if they win him a title this season?
My guess would be something the size of a small SUV.
Dave Daniels is an NBA Featured Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on twitter: @AllDave_AllDay, like him on Facebook here or add him to your network on Google.
