CLEVELAND -- With 4:03 remaining and the Golden State Warriors leading 102-77, Tyronn Lue subbed in rookie forward Cedi Osman as LeBron James left the court for what might be his final game as a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
And if the 4-time MVP does in fact opt out of contract and leave in free agency this summer following the Warriors' four-game sweep of the Cavs in the NBA Finals, Cleveland fans did their best to make sure he knows how they feel about him. As James left the court, he received not only a standing ovation, but chants of "MVP," which lasted as play resumed.
Whether or not James will return with the Cavs next season, at this point, is anyone's guess. Dating back to last year's Finals, rumors have linked the 14-time All-Star to the Los Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets, Philadelphia 76ers, San Antonio Spurs, and even the Warriors.
James, for his part, has remained mum on his future. Asked on Thursday whether or not the Cavs currently possess enough talent to compete with the Warriors, he sidestepped the question. He also, however, made it clear that winning championships is still at the top of his priority list.
"Listen, at the end of the day, I'm living in the moment now," James said. "Obviously, from a talent perspective, if you're looking at Golden State from their top five best players to our top five players, you would say they're stacked better than us.
"We have a lot of talent as well. We've been in a position where we could win two out of these three games. So what do we have to do? Do we have to make more shots? Is it we have to have our minds into it a little bit more? Is it if there is a ball on the ground we can't reach for it but you've got to dive for it?"
Whatever it was the Cavs could do to dethrone the Warriors this season, they didn't. Now the franchise -- and its fans -- will play the waiting game, wondering if Friday night's farewell was final.
