Fansided

LeBron James was not happy with Kevin Love being out of shape last season

By Charles Rahrig V

Oct 28, 2015; Memphis, TN, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (0) and Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) before the game against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 28, 2015; Memphis, TN, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (0) and Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) before the game against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports /
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According to reports, the reason LeBron James wasn’t as happy with Kevin Love last season, was because of Love being out of shape.

One of the big stories of the 2014-2015 season early on in the NBA, was that the LeBron James and Kevin Love weren’t clicking right away. It had seemed like James wasn’t happy with Love, and no one really understood why after he reportedly wanted the team to trade for him.

Well eventually the two were able to coincide and the Cleveland Cavaliers went on a roll through the playoffs, despite Love missing the last three rounds. Now, the team appears to be primed to continue to run through the Eastern Conference and there is no telling what James, Love and the rest of the Cavaliers can do together when they’re all synced in.

That problem the two were having? According to Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal, James was not happy with the shape that Kevin Love showed up in to the Cavaliers last season.

"In truth, James was frustrated in part because Love showed up out of shape. He didn’t work out much at all the summer he was traded here and he wasn’t the player James was expecting. His legs bothered him all season. His back was hurting. All of the parts were connected and none of them were firing properly.James loves talent and he loves playing with elite talent. Love’s physical condition prevented him from being the player James thought he was getting. As a result, James gravitated toward Kyrie Irving and Love never fit well into this system.In truth, James was frustrated in part because Love showed up out of shape. He didn’t work out much at all the summer he was traded here and he wasn’t the player James was expecting. His legs bothered him all season. His back was hurting. All of the parts were connected and none of them were firing properly.James loves talent and he loves playing with elite talent. Love’s physical condition prevented him from being the player James thought he was getting. As a result, James gravitated toward Kyrie Irving and Love never fit well into this system."

LeBron James is one of the most athletically gifted talents in the entire world. The work he puts in to maintaining top physical condition, is part of what has led him to playing in five straight NBA Finals. For a fellow top player in the league to not initially put in that same work, appears to have irked James.

Fortunately enough after all the rumors, Love re-signed with the Cavaliers, which is a big sign that the two sides are now on the same page and ready to do big things in Cleveland.

When there’s an elite talent like LeBron James running the show, he expects as much work and dedication from his teammates that he puts in. When Love didn’t do that, he was upset with him and for good reason.

The Cavaliers in the NBA Finals were a depleted team, but they never used that as an excuse and worked as hard as they could until they physically gave out. That type of attitude with a healthy roster, will continue to push Cleveland toward big things going forward.

That’s the attitude LeBron James wants Kevin Love and the rest of his teammates to have.

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