Timofey Mozgov and LeBron James (Photo : Ezra Shaw | Getty Images Sport)
LeBron James invested the rest of his entire career in Cleveland when he left his lofty perch in Miami.
His sentimental return to his hometown pretty much makes him "stuck" in Cleveland and the mission to bring a title to the hapless city. Despite all the option in the league which could guarantee him an easier title, he chose the Cavs.
Now, he has to protect his brand and make sure he wins a title, and he won't mince words on teammates who don't share his vision. According to ESPN, James has been pouring on the "tough love."
James shouts at Mozgov for every miscue, and would openly criticize him for not using his menacing frame in the right way. One of the more notable instances was in the game against the Philadelphia 76ers where rookie Jahlil Okafor kept on scoring against the Russian center.
"The spotlight is going to be on us like that as a team every game this season," James said when asked about the scene. "He has to become comfortable with it."
"I'm the leader of this team, whatever it takes," James said Tuesday. "So if it's laying into them, I'll do that. I also lead other ways as well. Obviously that makes more headlines than others, but whatever this team needs I'm going to do. I'm going to hold everyone accountable, including myself. And I expect nothing less than greatness out of all of us and if we're not able to do that, then I feel like I'm failing."
However, as Uproxx noted, Mozgov underwent knee surgery during the summer and that may have contributed to the deterioration of his play (compared to last season).
Perhaps, realizing that, James shared to ESPN that he is now taking a "different approach."
"I think I may have to change my approach a little bit," James said to ESPN.com. "A lot of it is predicated on how much he means to our success, how big of an impact he made once he got here last year. And when you see that type of impact, you expect it."
Will James' change of motivation tactics help improve Mozgov this season? Cavs fans certainly hope so.
