LeBron James comments on David Blatt firing, Cavs, Tyronn Lue

Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James told reporters he was surprised by the team's decision to fire head coach David Blatt on Friday afternoon, but that he respected the move.

Author:
SI Wire
Publish date:
Jan 22, 2016

Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James told reporters he was surprised by the team’s decision to fire head coach David Blatt on Friday afternoon.

James was reportedly not consulted on the decision to dismiss Blatt. Multiple reports indicated he was previously unaware Blatt would be fired, before finding out on Friday. He was asked by reporters on Saturday about his perceived impact on the team’s moves.

“That’s not my concern,” he said. “I found out about it just like every other player on this team at 3:30 yesterday. ... I think [GM David Griffin] was right on everything he said ... Like it or love it or hate it, we got to respect it.”

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New head coach Tyronn Lue signed a multi-year deal to replace Blatt, and James and his agent Rich Paul have reportedly been strong advocates of Lue becoming head coach in the past. Other reports have indicated Lue, a former NBA point guard, commanded more respect from players than Blatt, who joined the team having never coached at the NBA level despite a strong international coaching history.

“We’ve been friends since I was 17 years old,” James said of Lue. “But it ended today. ... He’s still the coach and I’m underneath him.”

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Blatt was hired to coach the Cavaliers in June 2014, about two weeks before James announced his decision to return to Cleveland after spending four years with the Miami Heat.

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