Reflecting on a pivotal moment in his career, LeBron James recently revisited the infamous sequence during Game 1 of the 2018 NBA Finals. Sitting on the bench after the final seconds of regulation, James admitted he was replaying every detail in his mind—from JR Smith’s rebound and dribble out to George Hill’s missed free throw. According to Cricket Exchange, James even referenced the notorious Chris Webber incident from the 1993 NCAA Championship, drawing a painful parallel to what nearly unfolded.
Back then, Webber called a timeout his team didn’t have, sealing Michigan’s loss. James revealed that during those frantic moments, he briefly considered calling a timeout but hesitated. “I thought about it. I wasn’t sure we had one left,” he said. “When JR got the rebound and took it out, my mind raced. I didn’t want to make a mistake like Webber did.”
Tyronn Lue, the Cavaliers’ head coach at the time, later explained that the team avoided calling timeout intentionally. “We didn’t want the Warriors to sub Curry out before the final possession,” he said, suggesting Cleveland wanted to maintain the favorable matchup. But when Golden State surged in overtime and secured the win, the blame never squarely fell on LeBron.
“I don’t care about outside criticism,” James said firmly. “We made it to the NBA Finals. What more do people expect from me to carry my teammates?”
Still, the emotional toll was evident. James recalled seeing Draymond Green step into the lane early during the free throws and the wave of thoughts that followed. After the chaotic possession, he returned to the bench and asked Lue if the team had any timeouts remaining. When told they did, James buried his head in his hands—a reaction that spoke volumes.
Cricket Exchange reports that many at the time believed Cleveland should have used their final timeout after JR secured the rebound. If they had, the Cavaliers might’ve had a clear shot to win or draw a foul and head back to the line. Instead, the opportunity slipped through their fingers, and overtime tilted in Golden State’s favor.
For James, the moment remains etched in memory—not just because of what happened, but because of what didn’t. He was the heart of that Cavaliers squad, and as always, fans and analysts alike expected him to do it all. But as the saying goes, even the strongest shoulders can only carry so much.