When Jeremy Renner was blown away by LeBron James' performance in 2018 NBA Finals
LeBron James' basketball brilliance has most people in awe, including those from the entertainment world. Several of Hollywood’s biggest stars have been lavishing praise on the four-time MVP for his incredible performances.
In Game 1 of the 2018 NBA Finals, “LBJ” dragged the Cleveland Cavaliers to a thrilling overtime loss to the mighty Golden State Warriors. After the game, Jeremy Renner gushed at James’ impressive display:
“There is more drama in that court than in most movies. I think he’s really trying to be an actor anyway so he’s just making plays to be on the big screen.”
(Starts at 1:00)
Game 1 of the 2018 NBA Finals is now infamously known as the J.R. Smith blunder. LeBron James’ teammate inexplicably took the ball out when he could have attempted a point-black layup to win the game.
That the Cleveland Cavaliers were even in contention to win that game was solely due to the brilliance of “King James.” The Cavs no longer had Kyrie Irving in 2018 and Kevin Love was their second-best player.
James finished the game with 51 points, hitting 19-32 field-goal attempts. He added eight rebounds and eight assists in a superhuman effort to carry a vastly underdog team.
The Warriors featured Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, Draymond Green, Klay Thompson and Andre Iguodala. Despite the significant disadvantage in firepower, the Cavaliers kept the game close and nearly stole that game because of James.
Jeremy Renner is unfortunately in the headlines due to a “weather-related accident.” He reportedly has injuries and is in critical but stable condition.
WATCH: #BNNUS Reports
@JeremyRenner has been hospitalized after an accident that took place on Sunday.
“We can confirm Jeremy is in critical but stable condition with injuries suffered after experiencing a weather-related accident while plowing snow earlier today.” https://t.co/QLp7BjhdWo
Clint Barton/Hawkeye, hopefully, will be back on his feet in no time.
The 2018 NBA Finals was over when LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers lost Game 1
The Cleveland Cavaliers won just one game in the 2017 NBA Finals. They barely had anything to survive the historic offense of the Warriors that had Durant, Curry, Thompson, Iguodala and Green.
With the Cavaliers adding almost no one significant to the 2017 team, it seemed like a vicious repeat was bound to happen. LeBron James did everything he could against the vaunted Warriors, but didn’t just have enough from his supporting cast to win.
Game 1 was the closest they had to preventing a sweep. J.R. Reyes might not have scored over Kevin Durant under the basket, but getting the ball out with not enough time on the clock was backbreaking.
Knowing how they let slip a golden opportunity in regulation, the Cavs were listless in the extra period. The Warriors also thought that they couldn’t be too confident and careless and slammed the door on the Cavaliers.
Golden State outscored Cleveland 17-7 in overtime to seal the game. It also seemed like the series was all but done when Smith committed one of the most boneheaded plays in NBA history.
A few years later, Andre Iguodala revealed that "King James" punched a wall in utter frustration at what had happened. James and the Cavaliers knew it was a win that could have changed the complexion of the series.
LeBron James ended his career with the Cleveland Cavaliers in a humiliating sweep against the Golden State Warriors. He would leave his former team to play for the LA Lakers the following season.