Now that LeBron James has wrapped up another MVP season concluding with a second NBA championship, the topic of free agency is all anyone can talk about. Where will he go in the summer of 2014? Will he return to Miami? Will he go back to being the king of Cleveland? So many questions surrounding that expiring contract, but James is not speaking about it. Like he did a few seasons ago, James will not address the idea of free agency.
In his final interview of the season with the Associated Press, James said he was not thinking about the idea of becoming a free agent, instead only thinking about the possibility of competing for a third-straight NBA title with his current teammates, Erik Spoelstra and Pat Riley. The idea of Cleveland is far from his head.
James told the AP that he is already feeling the itch to get back on the court. There are no Olympics this summer to take up James' time, so said he has plenty of time to figure out short-term and long-term plans. The short-term involves returning for the 2013 season as a better player than before. Long-term will involve giving the idea of staying in Miami a serious look.
"This is what we came here for, so that would be the ultimate. But you can never...I don't know, life changes, things happen, and we have to be prepared for that. But this is what we all want to be here for, that's to be able to compete for a championship each and every year. And if we can do that, then it'd be awesome," James said.
Miami regrouped as a team for physicals on Tuesday and to clean out their lockers. James is already having separation anxiety, wishing the team could have just one more practice together or at least take one more bus ride together. Instead, everyone scatters for vacations. James will take his annual Nike trip to China and keep free agency far from his mind.
"I've been in this position before. I've heard it before. It can't get any worse than my season before I became a free agent in 2010," James said.
James believes if the current roster stays healthy and focused, there will be no reason that the team cannot compete for another championship. He believes that he owes it to his team to come bck a better player, simply saying, "I'm obsessed with success."
The champ will take some time to think of something other than basketball this summer. He will be marrying his longtime girlfriend. James laughed that he was somewhat involved in the planning process of the wedding, but the most important thing to him is that his soon-to-be wife if happy.
