Mark J. Terrill/AP LeBron James is trying to will the Cavs to a fourth straight Finals and his eighth straight appearance.
- LeBron James is trying to make an eighth straight NBA Finals, with what many consider to be a weaker supporting cast.
- Former Cleveland Cavaliers GM said if James makes the Finals this year, it would be "the truest testament to his greatness."
- Griffin said James overcoming the mental and physical tolls of so many Finals runs would be "unprecedented."
Throughout NBA history, across the league, players, coaches, and executives warn about the fatigue of making multiple Finals runs.
It's why the Golden State Warriors, now attempting to make a fourth straight Finals, have eased off the gas a bit more this season. Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, who made multiple Finals runs with the Chicago Bulls in the 1990s, continually said it would be a difficult year for his team.
The fatigue that comes with playing from October to June every year, and then picking back up the next fall, only makes LeBron James' accomplishments more impressive.
James has made seven straight NBA Finals, winning three of them. He hasn't had a season end before June since 2010.
This year, he's attempting to make an eighth straight Finals with a considerably less impressive Cleveland Cavaliers squad. Former Cavs GM David Griffin, who oversaw the previous three Finals runs, said if James makes the Finals this year, it may be his greatest accomplishment yet.
"If he makes it to the Finals this year with the group he has, it'll be the truest testament to his greatness," Griffin told Business Insider. "Because, mentally, to be able to grind and do the things he's had to do, if he were to do it eight years in a row, it would just be truly unprecedented."
The Cavs had a turbulent year, going through a major mid-season shake-up when the team seemed on the verge of falling apart entirely. Since February, the Cavs have integrated four new rotation players, while dealing with injuries and unforeseen circumstances, like head coach Ty Lue taking a leave of absence.
"I think this year in particular because there's been so much turmoil, because it's been such an unsteady year in some ways emotionally, it would be an even bigger feat mentally than it ever has been," Griffin said.
In his 15th season, James has boosted his scoring, rebounding, and assist averages from last year, while maintaining near-career-best efficiency from the field. While the Cavs are a deep team with useful role players, they lack a secondary scorer like Kyrie Irving, who frequently helped out James in the playoffs in past seasons. This year, the Cavs are extra-reliant on James to do all of the heavy-lifting.
Part of his continued greatness has been his dedication to taking care of his body. A recent ESPN report said James' annual body care reaches seven figures.
As the regular season winds down and the playoffs begin, James is going to have to be extra diligent in staying prepared. Even those who have worked with him say this year might be his greatest challenge yet.