LeBron James said he did not play a role in the recent firing of former Cavs head coach David Blatt, newsnet5.com's partners Ohio.com and the Akron Beacon Journal reported on Saturday.
He also said he learned of the decision to fire Blatt when the rest of the team did.
However, when James addressed media during shoot around Saturday, he said he agreed with statements made by manager David Griffin on Friday when he announced associate head coach Tyronn Lue would take over as the team's head coach.
Griffin said on Friday:
“On behalf of the organization, I would like to thank David Blatt for his efforts and commitment to this franchise. He spent the last year and a half battling intense scrutiny, working to mold a very willful group and we all recognize that is not at all an easy task.
“But with that said, when you have the clarity of purpose that our ownership has instilled in this entire organization, decisions often make themselves. Every decision made is an answer to the following question: does it put us in the best position to deliver Championships to Northeast, Ohio.
So, today, we are elevating Tyronn Lue, from his role as Associate Head Coach to Head Coach. I am more than confident that he will have the pulse of our team and the buy-in required to enhance the habits and culture that will foster the kind of identity and results we must have."
James also noted it's clearer now what he means when he's said at times that he's not always happy after wins.
"Like I told you guys before, you get so caught up in the wins and losses and I tell you every day, it's not about the wins and losses, it's how we play," James said. "It's how we prepare ourselves every day...For something like this to happen, now you understand what I was meaning."
