LeBron James Reflects on Family at NBA Finals

LeBron James shared that he chose not to have his family attend games during his 10 NBA Finals appearances unless it was a close-out game.

In his recent podcast episode, “Mind the Game,” the Lakers superstar, who has clinched four NBA titles over 22 seasons, discussed how his wife, Savannah, and their three children—Bronny, Blythe, and Zhuri—would often leave the arena. This was largely because he wanted to maintain focus and normalcy in his daily life.

“I never allowed my family to come to the finals unless it was a close-out game,” James explained to co-host Steve Nash. He recalled specific instances, like during the 2016 Finals, where his family stayed away from decisive moments, saying, “If we’re 3-1, or if it was Game 7, they didn’t join me.”

He emphasized that while his family would attend if it was a chance to win the championship, he preferred them to be at home, especially during away games. “I’m really trying to bring everyone together and keep my team focused,” he added. “If something were to happen in the stands, it could easily disrupt my mindset.” He noted that interacting with his family during games would take him out of his zone, making it harder to concentrate.

James reflects on his mixed Finals record of 4-6, having celebrated back-to-back championships with the Miami Heat in 2012 and 2013 before returning to Cleveland with the Cavaliers. He notably ended Cleveland’s 52-year title drought after coming back from a 3-1 deficit in the 2016 Finals.

In 2020, James secured another championship with the Lakers in the NBA bubble, triumphing over the Miami Heat.

Even if Savannah and the kids weren’t in the stands for pivotal moments, they continued to show their support, especially during championship celebrations. LeBron holds a significant place in NBA history, being the third-most Finals appearances of all time.