INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- While the NCAA tournament is capturing the country's imagination once again, LeBron James says the NBA is just fine with its postseason structure as it is.
The Cleveland Cavaliers All-Star does not want to see the league adopt a play-in tourney with one-and-done consequences.
"No, no, no," James said Wednesday. "That's wack. That's wack. Why? You got to earn your spot to be in the postseason. No consolation for finishing last. That's corny. That's corny. That's wack. To play for what? What are they playing for?"
James said the eight teams in each conference that have the best record at the end of the 82-game regular season should be guaranteed a playoff spot, without needing any further qualification.
ESPN's Zach Lowe reported last month that there is "some behind-the-scenes momentum for the idea of a play-in tournament determining the last two seeds in each conference -- to the point that two specific proposals are circulating at the highest levels within teams and the league office."
Lowe reported the play-in proposal that has generated the most discussion, according to several sources: two four-team tournaments featuring the seventh, eighth, ninth and 10th seeds in each conference. The seventh seed would host the eighth seed, with the winner of that single game nabbing the seventh spot, sources say. Meanwhile, the ninth seed would host the 10th seed, with the winner of that game facing the loser of the 7-versus-8 matchup for the final playoff spot.
James appears adamantly against expanding the playoff field in that manner.
"[Make the playoffs by winning the tournament], even if my record is better than yours? Nah, that's wack," James said.