Reporter: If James is not selected, the Cleveland Cavaliers may become the Russian City Knights
News on July 18, recently, Associated Press reporter Tom Withers participated in the podcast "The Rule of the King", reviewing the career of Lakers forward LeBron James.
Commenting on the form of the team that drafted the former James Cavaliers, Withers said: "I remember the huge empty seats in that arena so obviously... Whenever I'm asked about LeBron and those early days, I'm reminding people that without LeBron, this team might be on the verge of becoming the Oklahoma City Cavaliers. Gordon Gund is a very supportive owner, but he's already in trouble and they're not making any money. I can argue that this is still not a basketball city, intermittent few periods yes. But during that period, if that night's table tennis hadn't played lucky for them, I could easily have foreseen the team relocating. ”
In the summer of 2008, the Seattle SuperSonics moved their home stadium to Oklahoma City, and the team was renamed the Oklahoma City Thunder.
On his second trip to Cleveland, James also led the Cavaliers to four consecutive Finals appearances and ended a 52-year championship drought among Cleveland's four major professional sports leagues. On June 19, 2016, in the Big Seven at Oracle Arena in Oakland, California, the Cavaliers defeated the Warriors 93-89 after falling behind 1-3 in the Finals to become an NBA champion.
"As a native of Cleveland, I'm really, really excited because I've suffered that along with a lot of other fans." Gund said.
Gordon Gund purchased the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1983 to keep the team in his hometown and to secure a member of the team that earned LeBron James for Cleveland. After selling the Cavaliers to Dan Gilbert in 2005, Gund retained 15% ownership of the team until 2021, when he sold the remaining shares to Gilbert. Gunder has been featured at the Cavaliers' home games during the Cavaliers' playoff journey, and he also sat in a convertible with his two sons for the Championship Parade in downtown Cleveland. His two sons described the scene to their blind father.
"People are crammed between places where cars can pass and between buildings," Gunder said. There's no room anymore – no – but it's fantastic. People from all walks of life came, and they were all happy. ”
Gund used the word "extraordinary" to describe James' outstanding performance 20 years after the Cavaliers' initial selection.
"He's not over yet." Gund added.
