LeBron James played NBA Finals with self-inflicted broken hand

LeBron James played out the NBA Finals with a broken hand after punching a blackboard in frustration following the Cavaliers’ heartbreaking Game 1 defeat.

ESPN’s Brian Windhorst broke the news shortly after the Warriors were crowned champions with a victory in Game 4 on Saturday AEST.

James wore a light cast in private and kept the injury secret to avoid letting Golden State discover he was playing hurt.

“LeBron James played the last three games of this series with a significantly injured right hand, a hand that he injured punching a blackboard in the locker room at Golden State after Game 1,” Windhorst reported.

Game 1 was the infamous overtime loss following JR Smith’s brain fade at the end of regulation, when he forgot the score.

“He’s had two MRIs to determine the severity,” Windhorst added.

“It has been determined a hand contusion, but he’s dealing with a lot of swelling and a little bit of stiffness in his hand. He’s been wearing a soft cast when he’s been away from the basketball court.

“Even at press conferences, he’s hidden his hand inside his jacket as he’s been wearing a soft cast. It’s not something he’s wanted out there. It’s not something he’s using as an excuse. It’s something that definitely was a factor.”

Windhorst pointed to James’ unwillingness to shoot from distance later in the series as evidence of how his hand injury affected his play.

When James left Game 4 for the last time he bumped fists with some Warriors players, but avoided using his right hand.

He showed up to the post-game press conference wearing a cast and called his injury “self-inflicted” from postgame after a “very emotional” Game 1 loss.

“I let the emotions get the best of me and pretty much played the last three games with a broken hand,” James said.