Forget the missing bench points for the Cavaliers.
The real mystery swirling around this year’s NBA Finals as the Cavs look to return to their winning ways at Quicken Loans Arena on Wednesday night seems to center on a long-forgotten hip-hop song featuring LeBron James and Golden State Warriors foe Kevin Durant.
ESPN stirred the conspiracy pot Monday when it unleashed an article that purports that the two NBA stars collaborated musically on a hip-hop song back in 2011.
The story created an immediate stir on social media.
It seems the song was written and recorded in Akron when Durant was in town to work out with James during the NBA lockout that year.
James was with the Miami Heat at the time and Durant was with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Apparently while chilling off court between workouts, they created the song that has never been released publicly.
ESPN reporter Chris Haynes said he interviewed one person who reportedly heard the song and said Durant raps the first verse, James offers an assist on the second verse and then Durant finishes off the song.
When asked by ESPN to confirm the sought-after track, both players confirmed its existence and laughed when asked for further comment.
A spokesman for James declined to comment on the musical collaboration.
Craig Webb, who will not confirm that a bootleg cassette tape of him singing “Under the Boardwalk” exists somewhere, can be reached at cwebb@thebeaconjournal.com or 330-996-3547. ESPN.com contributed to this report.