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Delonte West recalls LeBron’s bizarre mid-game recruiting pitch 👇🔗

Delonte West says LeBron James recruited him to the Cavaliers in the middle of a game.

West remembers playing Cleveland in Seattle early in the season and having a strong game when LeBron started talking to him at the free-throw line.

“Man, I followed you in college.”

LeBron even reminded him about watching him play in Philadelphia before asking:

“You want to come play with Cleveland?”

At first, West thought LeBron was just messing with him.

“I thought he was just doing a veteran trick… trying to get me out of my game by getting familiarity.”

But LeBron wasn’t joking.

“He was serious. He asked me to come play with Cleveland.”

That has to be one of the wildest recruiting pitches ever: getting recruited while you’re literally playing against the team. 😭

(h/t Derrick J Trapten)

Former Cleveland Cavaliers legend LeBron James reveals the harsh truth behind his decision to leave the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Looking back on his infamous The Decision, he opened up about what Cleveland couldn't give him at the time and why he ultimately chose Miami in pursuit of a championship. 😳🔗👇🏼

Wild

Cavs' Donovan Mitchell jokes New Year's partying was key to 71-point masterpiece Cavs star Donovan Mitchell revealed the unlikely source that fueled his memorable 71-point game three years ago.

Delonte West shared an anecdote about being recruited by LeBron James mid-game during his time with Seattle.

While West initially viewed the interaction at the free-throw line as an in-game distraction tactic, the recruitment resulted in a trade to Cleveland later that season. 🏀

"We were playing Cleveland, out in Seattle, the first month of the season, and I was cooking them. I remember we were sitting at the foul line, and LeBron James, he was like, man, I followed you in college. You remember that time I came to Philly at the Palestra to watch you play? And I was like, yeah, I remember. He was like, man, you want to come play with Cleveland? I thought he was just doing a veteran trick… I thought he was just trying to get me out of my game by getting familiarity. But he was serious. He asked me to come play with Cleveland."

Via ODEE ENTV

Donovan Mitchell sees something different in this Cleveland Cavaliers squad. 👀

With more help around him and James Harden getting a full offseason to build chemistry, Mitchell believes he can preserve his energy while leaning on his teammates more.

“I ain’t got to do all that over there,” Mitchell said on the Cousins podcast with Tracy McGrady and Vince Carter.

“I’m not old, but I’m not young. So, like, being able to, you know, preserve yourself and kind of work on those different things and seeking people out to kind of trying to help with that.”

The Cavaliers came up short in the Eastern Conference Finals last season, but Mitchell believes this group has what it takes to soar even further. 🏆

J.R. Smith says he used his championship check after Cleveland’s 2016 title run to buy himself a Ferrari F12.

“My favorite lady, I still got her, is my championship car. That’s what I bought with my check. F12 Ferrari.”

He even described the setup:

“Red junk, gold rims, got them red screws on that thing. That’s my lady right there.”

J.R. says he loves the car so much that his wife jokes about it being his mistress.

“She be like, ‘Where you going?’ I’m like, ‘Going out with the fellas.’ ‘You taking your mistress with you?’ ‘You know it.’”

Cleveland received $2,656,422 from the NBA playoff pool for winning the 2016 Finals.

And J.R. turned his piece of that championship run into a Ferrari he still calls “my baby.” 😭

(via Knuckle heads Pod)

A center wanting to handle the ball like prime James Harden is wild. ��Derik Queen naming the Beard as his biggest childhood inspiration makes total sense when you watch his game.

“Really, James Harden... When he was on the Rockets and used to do his one-on-one's, I was like 'dog, I want to do that.’”

Another day to remind everyone that Donovan Mitchell chose Cleveland not just once.

The Cleveland Cavaliers aren’t sneaking up on anyone anymore. 🏆

With Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen and Peyton Watson leading a deeper roster, the Cavs have built a team capable of matching up with the East’s best.

After last season’s disappointing playoff exit, they’re coming back with something to prove.

The roster is better.
The depth is stronger.
And the hunger is real.

Cleveland has everything it needs to make a serious run at the Eastern Conference crown in 2026-27.