"Damn it, I hope he doesn't get a taste for it!"
But...
Thinking about LeBron later smugly saying he likes being the Sixth Man.
Seems kind of fun!
Shaquille O'Neal figured out the inside story when he saw the news. Just started at TNT, he confidently said in front of the camera, "I'm sure making LeBron a substitute was Pat Riley's idea. Then he let the coaching staff announce to the public that LeBron volunteered, giving him a stepping stone while making him feel grateful. That's Pat Riley's trick!"
Barkley, who loved to contradict Shaquille O'Neal during his playing days, nodded in agreement this time.
He also thought it was unlikely that LeBron volunteered to be a substitute.
Kenny Smith felt a bit sentimental.
From 2003 to 2011, he had watched LeBron go from being the 'Chosen One' to a team substitute.
This godly twist was...
completely unexpected.
But thinking about LeBron's personality, it seemed not so surprising after all.