The defending NBA champion Cleveland Cavaliers held their media day Monday, and all eyes were on superstar LeBron James.
That doesn't mean James isn't looking back on last year fondly, per basketball writer Sam Amico:
— Sam Amico (@AmicoHoops) September 26, 2016
Star power forward Kevin Love, meanwhile, acknowledged the Cavs now have a target on their backs.
"I think, more than anything, our mindset going into this year is knowing that the hunter has now become the hunted," he said. "So we have to approach every game—a lot like the last two years—knowing that we're going to get everybody's best shot."
The Cavs have the balance of veteran experience and youthful bodies to handle the onslaught, and head coach Tyronn Lue joked that the 31-year-old James possesses both, per NBA on TNT:
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) September 26, 2016
Lue, meanwhile, shared a story about how he motivated his team after it went down 3-1 to the Golden State Warriors in last season's NBA Finals, per Will Burge of WTAM 1100:
— Will Burge (@WillBurge) September 26, 2016
— Will Burge (@WillBurge) September 26, 2016
Some of the talk Monday was about who wasn't present at media day, namely J.R. Smith. The Cavs and Smith remain in contract negotiations.
"As we have stated and Coach has previously stated, we think very highly of J.R. and we love him as a member of our team, as a member of our locker room," general manager David Griffin said, per Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com. "He was essential to our success, and for that reason, we have made an incredibly competitive and aggressive offer in re-signing him."
James also spoke about Smith, via NBA TV:
— NBA TV (@NBATV) September 26, 2016
Griffin also announced veteran guard Mo Williams is retiring, per Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal.
The Cavs addressed serious issues off the court as well.
Much of the talk over the past month has revolved around athletes protesting racial oppression and police brutality, namely in the NFL after San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick refused to stand during the national anthem in late August.
James weighed in on the issue and said he would stand for the national anthem.
"That's who I am," James noted. "That's what I believe in. But that doesn't mean I don't respect and don't agree with what Colin Kaepernick is doing. You have the right to voice your opinion, stand for your opinion, and he's doing it in the most peaceful way I've ever seen."
James also spoke of his personal fears regarding policing in the United States, noting he would be concerned if his son was pulled over, per the Chicago Sun-Times:
Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports fears James could face backlash for his commentary on the issue:
— Charles Robinson (@CharlesRobinson) September 26, 2016
Media day is often a blend of the serious—as teams reflect on the past, lay out their goals for the season to come and talk about the issues affecting athletes and the world at large—and lighthearted fare.
And as expected, there were both silly and adorable moments for the Cavs.
Like Love posing with some mascots:
Or Richard Jefferson taking some time for an interview with the team's younger fans:
Finally, James, Love and Irving enjoyed their photo shoot together, as the Cavs shared on Twitter:
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) September 26, 2016
The Cavs earned the right to enjoy themselves in the offseason. But now, the grind begins as the team looks to return to the NBA Finals and repeat as champions.
That won't be easy. The Eastern Conference has improved, and Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson could be waiting in the Finals.
James and Co. ended Cleveland's title drought last summer. Looking forward, they'll now aim to bring a dynasty to the city.
You can follow Timothy Rapp on Twitter.
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