Hue Jackson sends LeBron James’ ‘team first’ message to Browns

LeBron James’ influence is so strong it is now being used by Browns head coach Hue Jackson.

As great as James is as the megastar of the Cavaliers, he never fails to mention how his teammates and coaches give him the opportunity to be dominant.

James took that narrative a step further after the Cavaliers won game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals on May 25. Naturally, James drove the train by scoring 46 points, hauling down 11 rebounds and dishing nine assists to force a Game 7 in Boston, which the Cavs won to advance to the NBA Finals.

The Game 6 effort prompted a reporter from Brazil to say James has always been a “clutch” player.

“First of all, my teammates and my coaching staff have given me the reins to take the shot or make the play late in games,” James said. “When you have that ability and when you have that confidence from your 14 teammates and then your coaching staff and then you put the work into it, it’s just a matter of just trying to come through.

“Like I said, I haven’t always done it in my whole career, but I’ve never shied away from it. That’s either making a shot or making a play. I was taught the game the right way ever since I started playing the game of basketball. My first year ever playing little league basketball, we won a championship. My coach at the banquet gave everybody an MVP trophy. Everybody.

“And right then, I knew that this is a team game. It’s not about one individual and how much one individual can do in order to win championships. In order to win, you have to have a full team. And that’s what brought it down to me.”

I don’t know for sure, but I’ll go out on a limb and say James was probably the best player on that basketball team, too.

“The second year, we won it again, and we all got MVP trophies again,” James said. “It’s just been instilled in me since I was 9 years old, when I first started playing, of what it means to be in a situation where your teammates rely on you. Just making the right play no matter if it’s a shot or if it’s a pass. I’ve always just been taught that.”

Jackson got a copy of James’ news conference and showed that portion to the Browns during a team meeting on May 29.

The Cavaliers are playing for a championship. The Browns are trying to win a game for the first time since Christmas Eve, 2016. But the concept Jackson wants his team to understand is the same.

“I thought it was tremendous,” Jackson said. “I thought what he said about his other teammates and how they’re a huge part of it was outstanding. People who have played the game or worn shorts or been in a locker room understand what it takes to win. I thought that was sensational. I said that to our football team.”

Jackson went on to say how he and the Browns are pulling for the Cavaliers in the NBA Finals.

James’ message hit home for quarterback Tyrod Taylor. Taylor is trying to establish himself as a leader in the Browns locker room after spending the last three years with the Buffalo Bills.

“He’s never selfish about his accomplishments,” Taylor said. “He realizes that it takes a team for him to be the person that he is. He appreciates his teammates.

“How that can relate to us is that not one person is bigger than the team. We’re going to need each and every person on the team healthy first and foremost but doing the right job to be able to execute and go win games week in and week out.”

Jackson is helping Taylor by declaring Taylor the starter ahead of rookie first-overall pick Baker Mayfield.

I didn’t know that

… Until I read my Snapple bottle cap

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Reach Schudel at JSchudel@News-Herald.com. On Twitter: @jsproinsider