LeBron James Doesn’t Want to Get Championship Ring on Opening Night


Defending champions often lay an egg immediately after getting their rings during Opening Night ceremonies. LeBron James wants to avoid that. He wishes the Miami Heat’s championship festivities took place on a day when they didn’t have to face another NBA team. Per ESPN: “It is what it is – there’s nothing we can do about it,’ James said Sunday as the Heat prepared for Tuesday’s ring ceremony that will take place before the season opener against Chicago. ‘It’s something we’d rather do [earlier], take care of last year. After we get our rings, then that’s last year. And then we’ll go from there.’ The Heat are 1-1 in season openers they played after receiving their championship rings. They suffered a 42-point loss to Chicago in the 2006-07 opener and defeated Boston 120-107 in the first game last season. Part of Tuesday’s pregame ceremony will include a new player introduction video and also a commemorative tribute to last season’s title run that featured Game 7 victories against Indiana in the Eastern Conference finals and over San Antonio in the Finals. James said it will be difficult to keep up with everything going on and still remain focused entirely on the Bulls. ‘It’s hard,’ James said. ‘I’m going to see some of it. You don’t take it for granted. We did some special things last year, and this is a time to look back at it one more time. I definitely won’t lose sight of what’s in front of me.’ Heat forward Udonis Haslem said he would like to see the ring presentation take place on the same day as the championship parade, although such a quick turnaround for a jeweler would seem difficult. Star guard Dwyane Wade said holding the event the night before the season opener would work even better. ‘Put it on TV, sell it out for the fans in Miami and let them enjoy it,’ Wade said. ‘And the next day come in for the game.'”