LeBron James, most definitely, does not want to get swept in the NBA Finals for a second time.
But if it happens, at least he’ll be in elite company.
Should Cleveland lose Game 4 of this series Friday night and get swept by Golden State, James would be the fifth player to actually be on the floor for a pair of 4-0 defeats in the NBA Finals. James was on the Cleveland team that lost 4-0 to San Antonio in 2007 as well.
The other four guys to be twice-swept? They’re not bad.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson and Michael Cooper all played in a pair of swept-out defeats in the finals with the Los Angeles Lakers. James Worthy was on both of those teams — 1983 and 1989 — but didn’t actually play in the first sweep because of injury.
So besides Abdul-Jabbar, Johnson and Cooper, the only other player to appear in two finals sweep losses was Wes Unseld — with the Bullets in 1971 and 1975.
Golden State could hand James his second sweep loss Friday night. The Warriors lead this year’s NBA Finals 3-0.
