Not The First Time: LeBron James’ Cramping Issues Once Cost Him A State Title

I can't believe I went to bed early.

So I watched the first half of Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday night (June 5, 2014, in case you're reading this months from now), and both teams were doing quite well. The lead kept changing, guys committed a lot of turnovers, but at the same time, it wasn't because of sloppy play - it was great defense coupled with great offense. You know, play you expect from two of the best teams in the NBA. Play you expect from teams with household names - the San Antonio Spurs with Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili, and the Miami Heat with Chris Bosh, Dwayne Wade, and the one and only LeBron James.

I knew I should have stayed up.

I woke up to watch the highlights - Spurs won the game, that's OK - but come to find that the broken air conditioning in the Spurs' arena not only contributed to everyone being hot, but contributed to LeBron James' cramps. Cramps that were so debilitating that he had to miss the last 4 minutes of the game. Commentators all across the sports landscape said LeBron having to sit was a "gift" to the Spurs as they went on a 4th quarter shooting tear.

I had no idea cramps could do that to a person. LeBron James, the best basketball player on the planet, unable to play in an NBA Finals game? Unthinkable. To his credit, he did try to play, but coach Erik Spoelstra told him "no way". Turns out, in fact, LeBron has had cramping problems his whole athletic life. In fact, this was not the first time his unavailability to play has cost his team a big win. Click here to learn more.

Despite it all, the NBA Finals is a potential 7 game series, and they have time to get it all together.