LeBron James on Playing the Warriors on Christmas Day: “I’m Not Going to Put Everything Into This Game”

LeBron knows the Cavaliers can’t win an NBA title on Christmas.

.@KingJames knows the Finals rematch with the @warriors will be a big game, but he's also keeping it in perspective https://t.co/ZrvfSpav9u

— Bally Sports Cincinnati (@BallySportsCIN) December 24, 2015

Spoiler alert: The winner of the Cavaliers/Warriors game on Christmas Day is not going to be crowned the NBA champion. With all of the hype surrounding the game—you’ve already told your mom dinner better be served and done with by 5 p.m. Eastern, haven’t you?—you’d think that it’s the most important game EVER. But in reality, it’s just one of 82 games that each team will play this regular season, and it won’t determine who wins the NBA title.

LeBron James understands that. So while everyone else is making a big deal about the game, he downplayed it following the Cavs’ win against the Knicks last night. He told reporters that the game will be great for the league but that it won’t be the end of the world if Cleveland ends up losing.

“Understand that it’s one of 82, and I’m not going to put everything into this game,” he said. “It’s a great opportunity for our fans to have five games on Christmas and for our game to continue to get so much exposure, but for us as a team, Friday will not be the end of our season, like it was in June. We play Saturday and then we play Monday and Tuesday. We want to play well, going against a great caliber team, the best team in our league right now, but it’s not like the seasons ends if we lose or if we win, or whatever the case may be.”

Way to suck all the life out of the game, LeBron!

No, but he’s right. The game should be great, but we probably shouldn’t read too far into the results of it. We still have a ways to go before a Cavaliers/Warriors game will really matter.

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

[via @FOXSportsOH]

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