In a recent Samsung spot, LeBron James famously says, "It's all about getting one for The Land."
James has now taken the Cavaliers to three NBA Finals in his two stints in Cleveland, but has so far yet to deliver a Larry O'Brien Trophy to the title-starved city that hasn't seen a major sports championship in 52 years.
With the Cavs trailing the Golden State Warriors 3-1 in the 2016 Finals, and Game 5 set to go in Oracle Arena (where the Warriors have lost but three times in the last 18 months), James concedes that his return to Cleveland two summers ago - after four years in Miami - wasn't entirely about getting one for The Land.
"For me, I think from a basketball standpoint, that's one of the reasons why I came back, but it's not the main reason I came back," James told reporters Sunday. "It wasn't the only reason I came back, and there wasn't just one reason why I came back."
More than anything, he says, his return was about the kids. Since coming back to Cleveland, James has used his foundation to establish a youth educational program (Wheels for Education), the completion of which earns its participants full scholarships to the University of Akron. James later expanded the program to include the parents and guardians of kids enrolled in Wheels for Education, offering them the opportunity to complete their GEDs.
"Personally, what I'm able to do off the floor, as well with my foundation and me being back home - last summer I was able to guarantee all my kids in my program college scholarships," he said. "I'm able to do so many things because I’m actually there, hands on, with my foundation and things that go on. I'm able to uplift the youth in my community and also in other communities. Even though you're able to do it from afar, if you're actually there, I think it's even more meaningful to kids that look up to you for inspiration."
That's certainly not to say James won't be disappointed if he and the Cavs can't finish what they started - be it this year or in years to come - but he'll take satisfaction and pride in everything he's done, on and off the court.
"Win, lose or draw, I'm not happy, but I'm OK with it because I know I've given all I've got," he said. "One thing I can say, that I've been blessed enough to be a part of seven Finals, and hopefully I'll be blessed enough to play in many more even after this year."
LeBron: Winning title wasn't 'main reason' for return to Cleveland
No superstar should be saying this stuff in the midst of the finals
How are you the supposed leader of a team but saying you're OK with losing in the Finals
