OAKLAND, CALIF.: Jerry West wants to make LeBron James’ blemished Finals record a little worse than it already is, but he doesn’t think James should be punished for it. In fact, he called any criticism of James ridiculous.
“That’s the most ridiculous thing,” West said Saturday. “If I were him, frankly I’d probably want to strangle you guys (the media). It’s ridiculous. He’s carried teams on his shoulders.”
If anyone can relate to James’ 2-4 record in NBA Finals, it is most certainly West, who is now working in the Warriors’ front office as an advisor. West went 1-8 in the Finals and remains the only player in NBA history to win a Finals Most Valuable Player award despite losing the series (1969) — a feat James came close to matching last year.