LeBron James’ crypticness is winning the NBA Finals.
So too are the Cleveland Cavaliers themselves. They lead the Golden State Warriors 2-1 in their best-of-seven set, leaving them two wins away from the first championship in franchise history
But, at the risk of being to ridiculous, who cares? LeBron stepped to the podium after Cleveland’s Game 2 win and started riffing on his secret motivation, making it very clear he wasn’t going to tell us what it was just yet. Then, after Game 3’s victory, he shirked an opportunity to tell ESPN’s Doris Burke what his secret motivation was once again.
Now we’re here, left to wonder what in the hell—besides the obvious—is driving LeBron.
One of our natural impulses is to ask his teammates. Surely they know what has him fired up.
Or, you know, maybe not. Per USA Today‘s Sam Amick:
So after James’ greatness was on display in the Cavs’ Game 2 win, he drops a tasty little tidbit in his postgame news conference that has had scribes and fans alike buzzing ever since: LeBron has a secret motivation that’s driving him in these playoffs which he can’t yet share with us, he had said, and it’s the mystery that will only be solved if Cleveland’s 51-year title drought comes to an end.
Talk about a teaser of a talking point.
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The funny thing, though, is that even James’ teammates, coaches or team executives don’t know what his secret motivation is. It’s become a bit of a joke inside their locker room, a brilliant way to keep the mood light and fear-free when his teammates keep asking him on a loop, “Is it me? Am I your secret motivation. It’s me, isn’t it?”
Dagnabbit. Foiled by LeBron again. He is just too damn good at keeping things close to the vest. Apparently. So one can only imagine what his secret motivation is.
There’s the obvious, of course: a third championship, a .500 NBA Finals record, the chance to bolster his legacy—specifically as it pertains to Michael Jordan—beyond comprehension, etc. But what else is there?
Is he secretly planning to leave the NBA to try his hand at baseball and knows he won’t get another crack at a title? Is this another life lesson about fitting out or in or whatever the hell it is that he’s trying to impart on the injured Kevin Love?
Did he put $50 million on the Cavaliers winning this series?
Does the huggable Stephen Curry leave him incensed to the point where he wants to taint his MVP campaign?
Is he trying to convince Dwyane Wade to join forces with him in Cleveland this summer?
Could he perhaps be trying to punk Dion Waiters?
See, this is what happens when LeBron doesn’t tell us things. We speculate. Dream. Get stupid. And until LeBron actually tells us the deal, we’ll continue to speculate, dream and get stupid—assuming, of course, there is a deal to be told and LeBron isn’t just making fans and media members chase their tails for sport.
