LeBron James wonders whether he’d rather miss the playoffs or lose in the Finals

Everyone wants athletes to be candid, until they actually hear something that doesn’t jive with their preconceived cliches of how an athlete is “supposed to act.” LeBron James is catching heat Wednesday morning for this statement in which he is brutally honest about what it feels like to lose in the NBA Finals, and whether the process is worth it.

While people are up in arms about the first paragraph, it’s important to read the whole thing. This isn’t a player categorically saying he’d rather miss the playoffs than lose in the championship round, James is being contemplative. He goes on to say that playing deep into the playoffs is “fun,” and he uses the term “lock back in” to describe how he stops his mind wandering and pushes the doubt out.

James is getting eviscerated for being honest. For being fallible. For admitting he has doubts himself -- and he’s getting dogpiled for it. If you want athletes to be honest then maybe it’s important to prepare yourself to hear things you might not like.

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