LeBron says he has a secret motivation helping him right now

The Sports Xchange

10 years ago

June 7, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) reacts during the 95-93 victory against the Golden State Warriors in game two of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. (Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports)

Jun 7, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) tries to shoot the ball against Golden State Warriors guard Andre Iguodala (9) during overtime in game two of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. (Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports)

June 7, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) reacts following the 95-93 victory against the Golden State Warriors in game two of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. (Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports)

Jun 7, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) passes the ball against Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) and Golden State Warriors guard Andre Iguodala (9) during overtime in game two of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. (Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports)

Jun 7, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) shoots the ball against Golden State Warriors forward Harrison Barnes (40) in game two of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. (Jeff Chiu-Pool Photo via USA TODAY Sports)

June 7, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) controls the ball against Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) and guard Andre Iguodala (9) during the overtime period in game two of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. (Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports)

Jun 7, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) and center Tristan Thompson (13) go for rebound against Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) in game two of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. (Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports)

Jun 7, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) shoots the ball against Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) in game two of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. (Ezra Shaw-Pool Photo via USA TODAY Sports)

What’s motivating LeBron James to an all-time individual performance through two games of the NBA Finals?

He’s not telling.

James averaged 41.5 points, 12 rebounds and 8.5 assists through the first two games of the Finals to help the Cleveland Cavaliers return home for Tuesday’s Game 3 tied 1-1 in the best-of-seven series with the Golden State Warriors.

It’s the fifth consecutive June for James in the NBA Finals — four straight with the Miami Heat.

“My motivation is to make sure my guys are ready and prepared every night we step on the floor,” James said. “And I have some other motivation that I won’t talk about right now, but I have so many different things to worry about than being an underdog or guys counting us out.”

Without All-Star teammates Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love, James said previously he is motivated to win the title for a city with a heartbreaking championship history — none in any major sport — and more recently that he wanted to guide a team short on firepower — namely Irving and Love — to beat the odds.

What else is motivating LeBron?

“I hope we win, so I can tell y’all,” he said Tuesday.