Miami Heat stars LeBron James and Dwyane Wade have responded to claims that their title win last season was lucky.
In the lead-up to a rematch with last season's defeated finalists the San Antonio Spurs, the pair have hit back against critics, stating that nobody talks of the luck which the Spurs themselves enjoyed during the 2013 NBA Finals.
James told reporters: "We feel slighted [by those suggestions]. I can't sit here and lie to you, we do. It went seven games, it wasn't like it was 3-0 and they had us in Game Four and we took it and won four straight.
"If you look at the numbers, look at the numbers, the lead changes, the ties and the points in that series, it's almost even.
"Both teams put themselves in a position to win an NBA championship last year, and we just happened to make one or two more plays to win it. Anyway, last year is last year and we're excited about it, but this trophy this year belongs to nobody. It's up for grabs."
A clutch shot by Tony Parker in game one handed the initiative to the Spurs last term, but Wade has questioned why that wasn't deemed as lucky when their overall win seemingly is.
"Game six was unbelievable to be able to come back and win that game," he said. "But that's the game of basketball. You know, the ball bounces funny ways.
"In game one, the shot that Tony Parker hit, I mean, that was unbelievable, to get off the ground and hit that shot and just get it off.
"The ball bounces in funny ways. There were so many other things that had to play right for us to win those games. So you need a little luck, both ways, even to be in the finals. But it wasn't lucky to come out on top."
The NBA Finals begins on Thursday, June 5 in San Antonio, and will end in the same city on Friday, June 20, should seven fixtures be required.
