The Game That Turned LeBron James Into King James

Despite 30 points and 13 rebounds, James failed to make the way for the Heat in Game 5 of that series. James scored only one basket in the final 8 minutes of the game, emerging critics to flock at his inability to perform in games where he is very much needed.

After Game 5, LeBron went silent. He didn’t speak to his teammates. He didn’t speak to his coaches. He didn’t speak to anyone.

David Fizdale was an assistant coach for the Heat at the time, and he understood the silence coming from James. Fizdale gave him space, as did the entire organization.

It wasn’t from [him] being a jerk,” says the man known as Coach Fiz. “But you could just tell, when we lost [Game 5], that he wasn’t allowing us to not win that series.”