James still excited about NBA Finals

Associated Presss

SAN ANTONIO

LeBron James should be used to the NBA Finals by now. After five trips to the championship series in eight years, it would make sense if he had a been-there, done-that attitude when stepping onto the sport’s biggest stage.

He doesn’t.

On Wednesday James took a seat inside a makeshift interview area, sneaked a quick glance at the NBA Finals signage that was off to his left side, and beamed like a kid in a candy store. Just a couple years removed from being ripped for not delivering in the moments that decide championships, James seems more comfortable in these surroundings than ever.

“I’m blessed, man,” James said. “That’s all I can say.”

And then, without stopping, the four-time MVP said much more.

“This is my fifth appearance in a finals,” he said. “I’m blessed. I was a kid who watched so many finals appearances and, you know, watched Michael Jordan and watched Shaq and Kobe ... we watched throwback finals games. ... I just wished maybe I could see the finals verbiage behind me and be a part of this.”

His wishes come true tonight, when James and the Miami Heat open these finals against the San Antonio Spurs, the NBA’s first championship-series rematch since 1998. The Heat are going for a third straight title, the Spurs are trying for their fifth since 1999.

By now, the story behind James’ rise to a champion is no secret. He left Cleveland in 2010 because he felt Miami gave him a better opportunity to win titles. In 2011, when Miami lost to Dallas in the final round, James said he was relying too much upon proving his doubters wrong.

So the next season, he vowed to play the game the way he had in the past. Championship No. 1 came in 2012, championship No. 2 came last season in an epic seven-game series against the Spurs, and now the shot at No. 3 is here.

If James is feeling pressure right now, it doesn’t show.

Away from the public eye, though, teammates have marveled all season about how someone who makes more than $50 million is working perhaps harder than ever.

“Nothing he does is normal,” Heat forward Michael Beasley said. “He practices wearing a weight vest. Does that sound normal?”