LeBron James doesn’t believe he’s the reason Toronto fired Dwane Casey.
The Raptors finished 2017-18 with a franchise-record 59 wins and earned the top seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. But, after topping the Wizards in six games in their opening-round series, the Raptors were non-competitive in a Cleveland sweep.
Toronto then dismissed Casey, who posted a 320-238 record and made five playoff appearances in seven seasons.
James, who averaged 34 points, 11.3 assists and 8.3 rebounds per game to lead the Cavaliers to four straight wins over the Raptors, addressed Casey’s firing when he spoke with reporters Friday.
“I don’t know,” James said. “I’m definitely not a one-man army.”
James said Casey helped to turn around the Raptors franchise, which posted a combined 95-151 record in the three years prior to his arrival.
But, Toronto underachieved in the playoffs in each of the last two seasons, falling in the second round back-to-back years. The Cavs have eliminated the Raptors from the playoffs the past three seasons.
“The last five years they’ve improved,” James said. “I’ve bet they’ve improved in winning percentage every single year… But I guess their front office wants playoff success, and that’s what it boiled down to I guess.”
James has made seven consecutive NBA Finals while playing with Cleveland and the Heat. He told reporters he “doesn’t get involved with the narrative” that his success in the postseason has led to a number of NBA coaches being fired.
"I've been fortunate enough to play for two great franchises in my career, and play with some really, really good players," James said.
