LeBron says he isn’t thinking about whether or not Game 7 could be his last as a Cavalier

INDIANAPOLIS– LeBron James has long-maintained that he will not think about his impending free agency decision until the 2017-18 season has come and gone.

He’s sticking with that until the very end, even with the Cavaliers on the brink of elimination in the first round.

If you didn’t watch Friday’s Game 6, (and honestly, it’s probably better if you missed at least the second half) the Cavs were embarrassed by the Indiana Pacers in a 121-87 loss. Things were so atrocious in the second half that James didn’t even play in the fourth quarter, as the Cavs trailed 92-67 heading into the final frame.

Following the game, James was asked if the thought will come up between now and Sunday that Game 7 could be his last home game in Cleveland.

“No. The thought that if we don’t play well, it will be my last game of the year,” he said. “That will probably, you know, hit my mind. But no, I haven’t thought about that.”

Following the Cavs’ epic last-second win in Game 5 on a James buzzer-beater, the series is now tied, 3-3 with a winner-take-all Game 7 coming to Quicken Loans Arena on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. If you need a refresher, James has never lost a first round playoff series in his career.  With that now being a possibility, the James free agency talk will undoubtedly heat up.

James has said, as recently as media day in September, that he intends to end his career in Cleveland. But nevertheless, he has never exercised a player’s option on any of his previous contracts, and it is highly likely he will be a free agent once July rolls around.

The last Game 7 James and company played in was during the 2016 NBA Finals. Of course, this time around is a very different scenario, with different faces and a lot more pressure. But regardless of the changes, James still understands that the opportunity for a Game 7 win doesn’t come around often.

“It’s the love of the game and wanting to be remembered,” he said. “I think Game 7, like I’ve said, it’s the greatest two words in sports. … I’ve been a part of Game 7s for quite a while now and it’s just something that you wish you can get back when you’re done playing the game.”