Homegrown hero LeBron James will be back in Northeast Ohio on Wednesday for his annual visit with the Los Angeles Lakers, who play the streaking Cleveland Cavaliers.
James spent 11 seasons over two stints with the Cavaliers, leading them to five NBA Finals appearances and their only championship in 2016. It remains the lone title won by a Cleveland professional team since 1964.
In a perfect example of kismet, current Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell became a big fan of the team — and always wanted to play for Cleveland — because of his admiration of James.
The proof, as Mitchell pointed out again Monday following a 114-98 home win over the Orlando Magic, is a widely circulated photo of him as a youth wearing a James jersey with the Cavaliers’ mid-2000s style.
“We’re trying to replicate what he did here and bring a championship to Cleveland,” the six-time All-Star shooting guard said. “To be who I am here is always a blessing. You’ve all seen the picture, so you know what it means to me.”
The 41-year-old James remains the Cavaliers’ career leader in every major category, except for blocked shots and offensive rebounds. Mitchell’s scoring average of 26.8 over his four seasons ranks second to James’ 27.2, with World B. Free third at 23.0.
James still maintains his mansion in suburban Bath Township, Ohio, just outside of his hometown of Akron, but has spent less and less time in the area since leaving the Cavaliers for the Lakers in 2018.
With Father Time gaining ground on “King James,” who is averaging 22.4 points, 6.0 rebounds and 6.7 assists in his 23rd pro season, every game in Cleveland could potentially be his final one.
Fittingly, the Cavaliers have opted to wear their wine, gold and blue throwback uniforms that James enjoyed during his first stint in Cleveland that ended in 2010.
“It’s crazy that they’re called classics (jerseys) — and he’s still playing,” Mitchell said, chuckling. “You know it’s going to be a spectacle and we’re going to enjoy it.”
Mitchell scored 26 of his 45 points in the first half against Orlando, powering Cleveland to its fourth straight victory. The Cavaliers are 11-4 since Dec. 29, moving up to fifth place in the Eastern Conference.
“I can’t say every game has been pretty, but we’ve found a way to win,” Mitchell said. “We dug ourselves a pretty sizeable hole (in the East), but we’re right there.”
Los Angeles has won two straight and sits fifth in the Western Conference, primarily because of its terrific 16-9 record on the road. That includes a 129-118 win Monday at the Chicago Bulls, when James scored 20 of his 24 points in the first half.
The Lakers are 3-1 on an eight-game trip, necessitated by the Grammy Awards taking over their arena in downtown Los Angeles.
“Just a really good job from our guys tonight,” Los Angeles coach JJ Redick said of Monday’s win. “They just made a lot of really good, simple plays.”
Redick’s squad received an electric 46-point, 12-assist, seven-rebound performance from superstar Luka Doncic. The reigning West Player of the Week also made eight 3-pointers.
“He’s an engine that’s fully on,” Redick said. “And he likes to create out there. Not to say it doesn’t test your patience at times, but you have to be willing to live with some of the stuff. Because more often than not, you’re going to get a great result.”
Doncic leads the league with a 33.8 scoring average and is third in assists at 8.8, while Mitchell is fifth in points per game at a career-high 29.5.
