LeBron compares Cavs teammates to his kids: 'You have to be patient with them'

If there's one thing we've learned about Lebron James since his triumphant return to Cleveland this past summer, it's that he's fond of analogies.

When the Cavaliers stumbled out of the gate, James hearkened back to his similar experience during his first season with the Miami Heat, preaching patience and process. He talked about teaching his teammates how to win, comparing the challenge to the time he built a car from scratch.

"Once it was completely finished, I was excited about it," he said. "That's what it feels like."

Later in the season, he compared the process to creating his own startup.

"You get guys around that you feel can help the company build, and you guys have one goal."

The purported patronage got to the point that Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving was asked whether James had assumed a father figure role for him and the rest of the team. Irving, in response, made clear he has only one father, and that he's not LeBron James.

That seemingly hasn't stopped James from making the comparison himself. Here's what he told Rachel Nichols of his first season back in Cleveland in an interview set to air Saturday, according to Dan Feldman of ProBasketballTalk:

"You know, in Miami, it was myself and D(wyane) Wade. We shared that leadership. And I knew coming here that I would have to be the sole leader. I knew one thing that I knew I had to work on - and I’m always working on every day - is my patience. … So I almost had to go back to having my first child, and understanding, 'Okay, this is a kid. And they have to learn. And you have to be patient with them.' And then at some point, they’ll start to get it."

Now set to play in the NBA Finals, it seems the Cavs have figured things out.

But whether that - or James's continued paternal guidance - means they have enough to get past the mighty Golden State Warriors is another question.