LeBron James knows all about defeats. His Cleveland Cavaliers have suffered 18 of them this season. Although, in an 82-game season defeat doesn't quite sting to the same extent as it does for a UFC fighter.
There have been more significant losses in James' career. In six trips to the NBA finals, James' teams have felt defeat on four occasions - twice with the Miami Heat and twice with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
So James' experience would certainly allow him to feel empathy for Conor McGregor's position right now.
Speaking to reporters this week, James related his support for McGregor.
Champions take lumps all the time. It doesn’t make you less of a man. It doesn’t make you less of a champion because you take an L. It’s not about how you react in the good of good, it’s how you come back in the great [letdown] of a loss or a defeat, when people say you’re down. I think he’s as strong as who he was before that. [You can name] any champion that’s went down. Probably the greatest champion ever in Muhammad Ali went down before. So, it doesn’t matter.
According to the Cavaliers player, McGregor will always be a champion - no matter what occurs in the remainder of his fight career.
We always get caught up in wins and losses. He will be a champion for the rest of his life and no one can take it away from him. It will always be a part of his résumé. It will always be a part of what goes on with him and he’s determined to continue to prove doubters wrong. He’s built that throughout his career and he will continue to do that as I’ve seen some of his quotes after the fight.
Watch James speak about McGregor below.
"Doesn't make you no less of a champion because you take a 'L.'" - @KingJames to @TheNotoriousMMA (via @FOXSportsOH)https://t.co/dZtk8jjYD7
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) March 7, 2016
