LeBron James Reveals 'Secret Motivation' to ESPN's Dave McMenamin

All last year, LeBron James spoke of a "secret motivation" that fueled his push to bring Cleveland an NBA championship.  

Now that the Cavaliers pulled off an improbable comeback from a 3-1 deficit to win the 2016 title, James revealed the source of that motivation to ESPN's Dave McMenamin:

"People thought it was because Steph Curry was being considered the better player than him," McMenamin said. "It turns out he told me that when he left Miami—people who he thought he had strong, trusting relationships with—someone told [him] 'you're making the biggest mistake of your career.' Basically, he felt taken for granted. 'Look, I just gave you four years of my prime, and you're not going to be comfortable with my decision, to root me on? You're going try to make me feel bad going out the door?'"

James did not divulge who the source of his motivation was. Mike Wise of The Undefeated (half-jokingly) called out Heat president Pat Riley, but it was not confirmed by James or McMenamin.

The relationship between Riley and James has been the subject of speculation for the past two years. Many took Riley's "no more smiling faces with hidden agendas" quote from last year as an oblique shot at James. However, in a Sports Illustrated profile written by Lee Jenkins, James referred to "the great Pat Riley."

The four-time MVP led Miami to four consecutive NBA Finals appearances during his stop from 2010-14. He won championships in 2011-12 and 2012-13, winning the MVP both times. Leaving for Miami the first time made James perhaps the most reviled athlete on the planet; his win Sunday night was the culmination of a tour-de-force redemption story.

James averaged 29.7 points, 11.3 rebounds and 8.9 assists over the seven-game series with the Warriors, which saw him and Kyrie Irving put the Cavs on their backs for a historic comeback. No team had ever come from a 3-1 deficit to win a Finals.

Doing so against a Golden State team that won an NBA-record 73 games and doing it on the road? That's the stuff of legend.

James had 27 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists in the win, making him the third man to have a Finals Game 7 triple-double (James Worthy, Jerry West). Whatever his fuel, it led to an incredible stretch where the Cavaliers won four of five games against a seemingly unstoppable Golden State team.

While it's unconfirmed that Riley was James' motivation, we can quell any insinuation it's Heat guard Dwyane Wade. The two best friends have remained such even after James' return to Cleveland; they may even be closer than ever.

"It was annoying how that was spun," Wade's wife, actress Gabrielle Union, told Pablo S. Torre of ESPN.com. "You lost out financially: Are you pissed? Did he abandon you for greener pastures with Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love? The actual fact is, his friend wanted to go home. For D to pressure Bron, that would really be about what D would have gained. And he would never do that to him. On that plane ride, I know my husband was at peace. Was Bron guilted and manipulated? Hell no."

No matter whether it was Riley, owner Micky Arison or an intern in the trainer's room, it's clear James took more than two titles away from Miami. Now that source of "secret motivation" is part of the reason James has a third.

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