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James remains committed to winning with the Cavs
(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-11-19 14:52 EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey - LeBron James remains focused on achieving success with the Cleveland Cavaliers, despite being well aware that other teams are cutting back on salaries in the hope of eventually signing him.
"My focus is on the team I'm on right now and on trying to win a championship," James told reporters on Tuesday before leading Cleveland (9-2) to a 106-82 rout of the New Jersey Nets, the team's eighth consecutive victory. The victory also saw James become the youngest player to amass 11,000 NBA points, shattering Kobe Bryant's record by almost 12 months in reaching the milestone aged 23 years, 323 days. James has already achieved one of his career goals, playing on a US Olympic gold medal winning team at the Beijing Games in August. However, his next target is an NBA title and after next season he will be the league's most sought after free agent. "I don't think about making a change right now. I'm focused on the team I have here and the relationships I have here." James, an Ohio native playing for his NBA home state team, said winning in Cleveland would be special but that professional sport was about business and not loyalties. "You do what's best for you and your family and what's best for your career. It's hard because it's a business," he said. "A franchise is going to do what's best for the franchise. When the players do what's best for the player it somehow comes back on us. You almost look bad. "But when a franchise decides to give up on a player, then it's OK. We've got to do what's best for us. "When I decide to make that decision, basically it will be about putting me in a place where I have a chance to win multiple championships. If it's here, then I'll be here. If it's moving elsewhere I'll have to look at my options." BLISTERING START The Cavs are off to a blistering start, thanks in part to the addition of point guard Mo Williams, who has freed James to operate in more open space. "I think this year is probably the best team we've had since I've been here," said James, who led the Cavs to the NBA Finals in 2007 where they were swept by the San Antonio Spurs. "A different team with different players doesn't automatically translate into championships," he said about leaving the Cavs. "So I have to be smart and be patient." The New York Knicks and the Nets, among several NBA clubs, have both been carefully preparing to pare away big salaries in order to be in position to court 'King James'. Cavs coach Mike Brown said he was aware of the jockeying, but like James, has his eye fixed on the NBA's top prize. "We need to get busy right now and if we do, we'll give ourselves a good chance," Brown said about a title campaign. "I like the direction we're headed. I like our team. You need to have some luck and get better as the season goes along. If we do, we have as good a chance as anyone. "People can clear all the (salary) cap space they want. We want to win right now." |
