LeBron James Remains a Rock Amid N.B.A.’s Changing Terrain
By SCOTT CACCIOLA OCT. 24, 2016
The NY Times
CLEVELAND — Great change, as it often does, swept through the N.B.A. during the off-season. It came in the form of the draft and trades and signings. Kevin Durant relocated to the Bay Area. Dwyane Wade went home to Chicago. Joakim Noah and Derrick Rose moved to New York.
And there, at the quiet center of the storm, stood LeBron James, a newly re-minted champion, this time with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
He remained active over the off-season. He dabbled in politics, endorsing Hillary Clinton for president. He engaged in social issues, speaking out on gun violence. And he emerged as the Cleveland Indians’ most visible and vocal fan at the beginning of their run to the World Series.
Lest we forget, James also joined his teammates for training camp as they prepared for Tuesday’s season opener against the Knicks — and, more important, for the long slog ahead. The funny thing about the Cavaliers, though: They look almost exactly the way they did back in June, when they outlasted the Golden State Warriors in the finals.
So many familiar faces. And so much familiar confidence from James, now on the cusp of his 14th season, with another championship his chief ambition.
On Monday, James was asked if he had learned anything about his team in the preseason.
“I know everything I need to know about this team,” he said.
The same question was put to Coach Tyronn Lue.
“Nothing,” he said.
Fair enough. Consider that of the 15 players on the Cavaliers’ roster, just four are newcomers: Mike Dunleavy, Kay Felder, DeAndre Liggins and Chris Andersen, who knows James from their time together with the Miami Heat. As a result, Lue said, the transition from last season has been nearly seamless.
“For the most part, I’m just happy with our offense, and I think those guys are picking it up,” Lue said, referring to the new players. “I think the trust factor is there. Those things are big for me. It’s the camaraderie part, with the guys being together and staying together and making sure it’s genuine. So right now, we’re in a good place.”
It is worth remembering that the Cavaliers dealt with their share of turmoil last season. Lue replaced David Blatt as head coach in January, and Kevin Love forever seemed to be searching for his role — a project that extended deep into the playoffs.
But this season, the organization appears to be embracing the concept of continuity, a rare gift in the N.B.A., even as its opponents bulked up during the summer.
“Whatever other teams do, we just have to be better,” said James Jones, a veteran swingman. “We have to work to increase our capacity. And that’s what makes this game great from year to year: Everyone has an opportunity to get better, and everyone has an opportunity to chase that championship.”
The Warriors — perhaps you’ve heard — augmented their already dynamic roster by adding Durant. The Cavaliers watched with interest from afar. In a recent interview with Cleveland.com, James indicated that he took Durant’s move as a personal challenge, one that he relished. In some ways, he said, it was nothing new.
“I know teams switch and pick up new coaches or new players, and their whole goal is kind of they want to beat me,” James told Cleveland.com. “It’s never just about me, but I always hear them saying, ‘We got to beat LeBron.’ It’s not just me on the court, but I understand that teams get together in this conference and across the league to try to beat me.”
Such is the bold self-assurance of a man who delivered the city’s first major sports championship since 1964. James had help, of course, and the mainstays are back, a group that includes J. R. Smith, who provided the only drama of the preseason by engaging in protracted contract negotiations. He eventually agreed to a four-year, $57 million deal.
“Guys are familiar with their roles,” Lue said.
On Tuesday night, the Cavaliers will unveil their championship banner at Quicken Loans Arena before facing the Knicks. Afterward, James plans to head to Progressive Field to catch the final innings of Game 1 of the World Series between the Indians and the Chicago Cubs.
“This is a unique time,” James said.
James keeps in touch with the Knicks’ Carmelo Anthony — the two participate in a weekly group chat with Wade and Chris Paul — but they have never broached the subject of the Knicks’ off-season moves, James said. Still, Anthony should benefit from the additions of Noah and Rose.
“At this point of our careers, we’re just trying to find ways we can play with guys that can take any bit of the load off of us,” James said.
At the same time, James said he was largely unfamiliar with the Knicks’ revamped look.
“I’ll be honest: I haven’t seen anyone play too much,” he said. “It’s not my concern.”
The focus, as usual, is inward. That means “implementing what we want to do this season and getting back in the flow of things,” James said. He tinkered with his game over the summer, working, for example, on the fundamentals of his jump shot. But really?
“Not much change at all,” he said.
Just the way he likes it.
A version of this article appears in print on October 25, 2016, on Page B9 of the New York edition with the headline: Amid Changing Terrain of the N.B.A., James Remains a Rock.
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