LeBron's Treatment of David Blatt at the NBA Finals Will Fire Up the John Calipari Rumors

LeBron James was incredible on the court in the NBA Finals, putting up historically good numbers in defeat against the Warriors. Off the court? Here’s Marc Stein of ESPN on how LeBron was treating his coach, David Blatt, in the huddle:

"LeBron essentially calling timeouts and making substitutions. LeBron openly barking at Blatt after decisions he didn’t like. LeBron huddling frequently with Lue and so often looking at anyone other than Blatt. There was LeBron, in one instance I witnessed from right behind the bench, shaking his head vociferously in protest after one play Blatt drew up in the third quarter of Game 5, amounting to the loudest nonverbal scolding you could imagine. Which forced Blatt, in front of his whole team, to wipe the board clean and draw up something else."

This isn’t totally unexpected. LeBron is the “best player in the World.” He hasn’t been getting along with Blatt since December. In January, videos showed him totally disrespecting Blatt during timeouts.

Michael Jordan was notoriously prickly in the huddle, once doing the same thing to Doug Collins that LeBron did to Blatt during the Bulls playoff series. Except LeBron told everyone what happened immediately, and the Collins story came out years later.

LeBron didn’t pick David Blatt to be his head coach. Which is why it’s OK to ask if LeBron is going to fire him.

Time to cue up the John Calipari rumors? I’m not buying the floating of Tom Thibodeau’s name. The real issue: How much, at nearly 31 years old, is LeBron going to want to be challenged by a new coach? Or does he prefer this setup, where he runs the show, and when things go sour, Blatt gets the blame?