In the mid-2010s, the Atlanta Hawks emerged as one of the NBA’s top teams, powered by an All-Star core that included Al Horford, Paul Millsap, Jeff Teague, and Kyle Korver. In the 2014–15 season, they reached the pinnacle of their success, finishing first in the Eastern Conference.
However, despite their dominance in the regular season, the Hawks suffered a humiliating defeat in the Eastern Conference Finals, where they were swept by LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Speaking to Vernon Maxwell about the encounter with the Cavaliers during that series, Teague revealed how Kyle Korver suffering a horrific ankle injury disrupted their game plan. Excuses aside, the All-Star also tipped his hat to LeBron James for being “too dominant” during this series.
Revealing that LBJ is still the most dominant player at the age of 39, the ATL team had no chance against a younger Bron 10 years ago. In praising King James, Teague said:
“Kyle broke his foot in the first game… But LeBron was just too dominant, man. You can see it now in the game against the USA. He’s 40 years old now. He’s still the most dominant player in the league. Ten years ago, we had no chance. We have no chance against him, man. He’s just too dominant, man, too dominant.”
James was dominant in this series, to put it mildly. The 2.05 m wing led both teams in points (30.3), rebounds (11), assists (9.3) and steals (1.5) per game. With no Hawks player with the size to contain LBJ, LBJ led his team to a sweep of the Hawks and the Eastern Conference championship trophy.
Teague was tired of losing to James in the playoffs
After his dominant performance in 2015, Akron Hammer put on another impressive performance against the Atlanta Hawks in the 2016 playoffs. On that occasion, the two teams met in the second round of the playoffs. But the result was the same: the Cavs swept the Hawks.
Unable to win a single game against the King, Jeff Teague was extremely frustrated. That’s why, enraged, Teague pushed him into the stands during the final moments of Game 3.
Years later, Teague apologized to the King and even revealed that his actions were motivated by frustration after constantly losing.
“My fault, GOAT. GOAT James. We was losing, shit, I’m a sore loser. I ain’t never won a playoff game against that n***a. I was sick of that shit. Atlanta fans cheering him on, he runnin’ on the field. I’m like, ‘You know what, bitch, I got something for you.’ He shouldered that n***a, he went to the stands.”
Unfortunately for the 6’1″ point guard, the 2016 playoffs wouldn’t be the last time he was swept by Bron. With Teague representing the Indiana Pacers, he faced the Cavaliers for the third straight playoff game.
This time, the two met in the first round and James averaged 32.8 points, 9.8 rebounds and 9 assists per game, finishing the series in four games.
