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LeBron James offered a friendly shoutout to Picture Perfect 2 star Rebel Wilson during Finals Media Day.
(Joe Vardon, Northeast Ohio Media Group)
OAKLAND, Calif. - The pressure of the looming NBA Finals is really getting to Cleveland's LeBron James and Golden State's Stephen Curry, the biggest stars in this series and in the league.
Consider James' off-week routine since Cleveland last played May 26.
"I went to the movies last week at a regular movie theater," James said Wednesday at Oracle Arena on Finals media day. "I went to go see -- I forgot the name of the movie. But I went to go see -- what is the movie with the girls and they're singing? Pitch Perfect 2, which is unbelievable. Fat Amy (actress Melanie Elizabeth Wilson) is awesome. I love her. Wherever you are, you're awesome."
And Curry, who's never played in a Finals before, what were his plans to occupy those last few fretful hours before the ball goes in the air for Game 1 Thursday night?
"I'm going to get a haircut," Curry said. "I'm going to hang out at the pool at my house, get some sun and get a good night's rest and be ready for tomorrow."
So perhaps James and Curry haven't quite lost their grip ahead of the start of the Finals.
In James' case, he was answering questions about dealing with the pitfalls of celebrity, namely, the inability to go out in public in anonymity.
James, who's entering his sixth Finals, is a two-time champion, a four-time NBA MVP, a global sports icon and followed by more than 20 million people on Twitter, shrugged it off.
"Well, I'm able to pick and choose," he said. "I sat out at an outdoor burger place and had a burger. Last night I went out and had a great dinner. I do normal stuff. I think I do."
Curry, who may one day supplant James as the proverbial face of the NBA, said of James: "He'll never sneak in a room and you not know. But he's a normal guy."
"Moments I've had with him, whether it's just hanging out off the court or not, he's just a really down to earth, chill guy with a good sense of humor and just enjoys life," Curry said.
Cavs coach David Blatt offered a different perspective.
"What's it like being around him outside of the court? Get out of the way," Blatt said. "Lot of people want to touch him. Lot of people want to talk to him, and I just try to stay out of the line of fire. I feel for him. I really do."
Blatt, who is in his first season with James, was asked if he had seen anything surprising about James' celebrity, and said: "Except for the forearm shiver I saw this lady give a man when LeBron came out of the hotel this morning in order to get a better picture, no, nothing surprises me.
"That was a little rough, though," he said.