LeBron James Says His Motivation to Beat the Celtics Made Him Want to Sign With Miami Heat in 2010

LeBron James faced the Celtics for five straight playoff seasons from 2008-2012.

Not Available Lead
Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

Not Available Lead

LeBron James admitted on Friday that he left the Cavaliers after the 2010 NBA Playoffs because the Celtics were always in his way. Before he took his talents to South Beach in 2010 (and returned to Cleveland), James and the Cavs couldn't get over that "green" hump towards their elusive first NBA title.

According to Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com, James said that he combed through the free agency market for new talents to hopefully sign with the Cavaliers following the 2010 playoffs ended. He claimed to have shopped for several All-Stars to beat Boston because they were just too damn good.

"I understood at that point in time that in order for me to compete for a championship and get to that next level, I had to figure out and get with some guys that could be on the same level as Paul, Ray, [Rajon] Rondo, KG, and those guys. I just didn't feel like ... to do it here, I was out calling guys in the summer time, trying to get guys to come here and guys just continued to decline offers from us."

But the Cavaliers apparently didn't have enough cap room to create a super team and help the Cavs take down the Celtics in the playoffs.

"And then at that time we didn't even have any money to go get anybody. I knew personally that D Wade was a free agent, I knew Bosh was a free agent, I knew Amare [Stoudemire] was a free agent, I knew Carlos Boozer was a free agent, so I knew I had to try and get some guys to try and get Boston, man. That was my whole mindset."

This shouldn't be a shock if you watched Game 6 in 2010 at the TD Garden, and James' melancholic demeanor while ripping his jersey off and walking to the Cavs' locker room after they lost. In case you didn't see that part, you can check the clip above and fast forward towards the end of the game for a review. And this was the last straw for him after facing the Celtics for three straight playoff seasons from 2008 to 2010.

"Yeah, but I was just trying to get Boston," James said. "They're all trying to get me."

After he signed with the Heat, James faced Boston two more times in the playoffs in 2011 and 2012. The Heat beat the Celtics in both years, and James won his first title with the Heat in 2012.

Send all complaints, compliments, and tips to sportstips@complex.com.

Latest in Sports