LeBron James had just scored 37 points in the deciding game of an NBA Finals series – he sat at the podium, reflecting on reaching the pinnacle of his sport for a second consecutive season, looking like a man satisfied.
It feels great. This team is amazing. And the vision that I had when I decided to come here is all coming true. Through adversity, through everything we've been through, we've been able to persevere and to win back‑to‑back championships. It's an unbelievable feeling. I'm happy to be part of such a first‑class organization.
What was tougher for King James? The first title or the second?
Last year when I was sitting up here, with my first championship, I said it was the toughest thing I had ever done. This year I'll tell last year he's absolutely wrong. This was the toughest championship right here, between the two. I mean, everything that we've been throughout this postseason, especially in these Finals, to be down – we were down every odd game. We were down 1‑0. We tied it. We were able to take a lead, but then we were down. We were down – we were scratching for our lives in Game 6, down five with 28 seconds to go. To be able to win that game and force a Game 7 is a true testament of our perseverance. And us being able to handle adversity throughout everything. It meant a lot for us to be able to do that and force a Game 7 and being able to close out at home.
A stat emerged on Wednesday that said the Heat were more than 53 points better with James on the floor without Dwyane Wade – but in Game 7, Wade and James were every bit the one-two punch, combining for 60 points. Wade said:
All the giddiness is the champagne talking. This is sweet. This is the sweetest one by far because of everything we've been through, everything I've been through individually and to get here to this moment, to have that kind of performance, that kind of game, help lead my team, it's special, man. So special.
Wade was asked if James' second title meant the monkey was finally off his back:
He'll get a lot less this summer. When the season start up again next year, it's on again. It's the ebb and flow, the highs and low of life. He's been in a championship what four times, and he's won two of them. That's a great percentage when you can make it to the Finals. So the story is still yet to be seen what he's going to end up with, but right now he's going to enjoy number two. Winning back to back, there's not a lot of people who has done that. He's a special player. We enjoy having him here. What he brings every night is unbelievable."
And finally, James discussed his summer plans. He had a special message for the media:
I need to rest my body. I do. As much as I love working out and as much as I love getting better, at this point I think the smartest thing to do is to rest my body. Give my body a break. I think that's the smartest thing. I got a wedding coming up with my beautiful fiancée. And it will be an unbelievable wedding now that we've won, instead of losing. I might have called it off if we lost [that got a laugh]. So now it's going to be one of the best weddings ever. I'm going to sign off with that. And I will see you guys when I see you guys. And please continue to motivate me. I need you guys. Thank you."
San Antonio's head coach, Gregg Popovich, had never lost an NBA Finals, but that didn't stop him from giving the Heat the respect they deserved on their night:
Players step up in the playoffs. Tonight a great example of that was Dwyane Wade and LeBron James. They played Hall‑of‑Fame basketball tonight. That's some of the best basketball they both played at the same time throughout the entire playoffs from what I saw. When you have somebody like Shane Battier come off the bench and knock it down the way he did, that's tough to match. If you're going to match that, you have to be pretty perfect. I didn't think we played our best game in that regard.
For 37-year-old Tim Duncan, a fifth NBA title remained elusive:
The obvious word is 'disappointing'. Tough end to the game. Made some bad decisions, missed some shots. I don't know what to say. Just give credit to the Miami Heat. LeBron was unbelievable. Dwyane was great. I just think they found a way to get it done. We stayed in the game. We gave ourselves opportunities to win the game, we just couldn't turn that corner. They made more plays down the stretch, bottom line."
Spurs guard Tony Parker was a combined 9-35 in Games 6 and 7:
I have no excuse. I'm not going to put it on my hammy and stuff like that. I just didn't play well. My shot was not falling. Couldn't get in a rhythm tonight.
Manu Ginobili was emotional after Game 6. He was asked if the letdown affected his play in the series decider:
During the game, nothing. Before the game, yes, of course. We all worked hard to forget about it, but it was not easy. But I don't think – at least in my case, it didn't bother me or affected my game today. But it was of course very tough to sleep yesterday, and we couldn't stop thinking about those two rebounds and those two threes. So many little things that could have gone our way in the last play or the last two plays to win it, that, you know, there's such a fine line, such a fine line between being celebrating and having a great summer, with now feeling like crap and just so disappointed.
