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LeBron James
- Thread starter I-77 NORTH
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Omar The Horse
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I-77 NORTH
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Dylan Windler's Mom
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Mr. Blonde
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I can honestly say that lebron making amends and coming back most impactful thing to me isn't his effect on the team now and going forward. His seven years years, and even following him in high school are probably my best memories in sports, and out of justifiable hate i've blocked that out for the last 4 years. It feels like a weights been lifted to just be able to remember those times again, and what they meant to me.
tristan+kyrie=$
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Starting to hit me that Thursday night will be unlike any night in Cleveland sports history. <a href="https://twitter.com/KingJames">@KingJames</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cavs?src=hash">#Cavs</a></p>— Tom Withers (@twithersAP) <a href="View: https://twitter.com/twithersAP/status/526929006999121920
">October 28, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> and
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Not sure if there is sporting equivalent to return of <a href="https://twitter.com/KingJames">@KingJames</a> to Cleveland.</p>— Tom Withers (@twithersAP) <a href="View: https://twitter.com/twithersAP/status/526929973287084033
">October 28, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
">October 28, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> and
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Not sure if there is sporting equivalent to return of <a href="https://twitter.com/KingJames">@KingJames</a> to Cleveland.</p>— Tom Withers (@twithersAP) <a href="View: https://twitter.com/twithersAP/status/526929973287084033
">October 28, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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Yup. THIS is why I was ready to move heaven and earth to be at Opening Night.
I can't wait. Literally counting down the hours.
P.S. Don't use tweet embed codes anymore. It breaks em. Just paste the URL to the tweet right into your message. Much easier that way anyway.
CavsFan005
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whats the prediction on his stat line?
I say 26.3 ppg 7 boards and 8 assists. 58 % fg
I say 26.3 ppg 7 boards and 8 assists. 58 % fg
blommen
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Assists are probably gonna go up, but no by much, since he isn't going to be the sole ball distributor in our offense. his rebounds will take a dip simply because of all the ridiculous rebounders we already have on our team as well. I do however, and this is a bold prediction i know, think that he will be shooting close to 60 percent from the floor this year simply because he will be getting the best looks of his career and he will be able to pick his spots so much. possibly 24 points, 7.7 assists and close to 6 rebounds per game, shooting 59/41/78. I really think he's going to have the easiest year of his career on the floor. off the floor he'll probably be spending a lot of time and energy instilling the right mindset and mentoring our young players.
tristan+kyrie=$
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chills for this View: https://twitter.com/twithersAP/status/527101103792717824
raisen
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Keith Dambrot says winning a title for the Cleveland Cavaliers has always been a dream for LeBron James -- Terry Pluto
By Terry Pluto, The Plain Dealer
Follow on Twitter
on October 28, 2014 at 11:55 AM, updated October 28, 2014 at 11:56 AM
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The first time I talked to LeBron James, he was 15 years old. He had just finished his first year at Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary.
His coach, Keith Dambrot, told me that James was an elite Division I prospect, but he'd probably never even make it to college.
He was NBA bound ... at 15.
But he was only 15. We sat in the bleachers in the old St. Vincent-St, Mary gym. It was after an open gym, and James was eating Skittles and sounding like a 15-year-old.
Nearly 15 years later, he is one of the mature voices in the NBA, having one of the most remarkable careers in league history.
And perhaps the most amazing chapter begins now ... with his return to the Cavaliers.
"I know it's sounds strange, but nothing LeBron accomplishes surprises me," said Dambrot on Monday.
Now the coach at the University of Akron, Dambrot talked about meeting James for the first time when James was in the seventh grade. Dambrot ran clinics for kids at the Akron Jewish Community Center on Sunday nights.
Dru Joyce III and his father used to come. One day, they brought James.
"Here's the strange part," said Dambrot. "LeBron was not that big, maybe 5-foot-11."
James is now listed at 6-foot-8, 250 pounds.
LeBron James during his freshman year at St. Vincent-St. Mary when he played for Keith Dambrot. Patty Burdon Special to the Plain Dealer
SOME HISTORY
"From the beginning, you could tell two things about LeBron -- besides him having great talent," said Dambrot. "First, he was very smart. And second, he wanted to please. That's why he usually ends up doing the right thing in the end."
Dambrot coached James in his first two years at St. Vincent-St. Mary's. It was Dru Joyce III who first made the decision to attend St. V-M so he could play for Dambrot. James and Sian Cotton followed. That was in 1999. A year later, Romeo Travis transferred to the school.
Dru Joyce II became an assistant coach for Dambrot -- and then took over as head coach of the Irish in the final two seasons that James played there.
Dambrot was 16-9 for the Irish before James. In the next two years, they were 53-1 with two state titles.
Then Dambrot moved on to Akron to become an assistant coach. He has been the Zips head coach for the last 10 seasons, his record is 231-107. His teams have made three appearances in the NCAA tournament, three more in the National Invitational Tournament.
Dambrot talks and exchanges texts with James a few times each year.
James invited Dambrot to a training camp Cavs practice in early October. They also talked for about an hour not long after James made his decision to return to the Cavs.
COMING HOME
Dambrot was not surprised by either of the big decisions made by James -- be it the first to leave the Cavs for Miami in 2010, or the second to return in 2014.
"I don't think LeBron ever wanted to leave," said Dambrot. "But he didn't think he could win here (in 2010). This is home, he'd rather play here."
When Miami was wiped out in the NBA Finals, Dambrot had a sense James would return home. James didn't tell him, it was just a feeling that Dambrot had from knowing James so long.
"The place he always wanted to win a title was Cleveland," said Dambrot. "It was important for him to win those two in Miami. He had to go there and win a title. But doing it here would be special."
Consider that James has been to the Finals in 5-of-10 seasons in the NBA. That includes 2007 with the Cavs, who were swept by San Antonio.
"I know that LeBron is talking about patience, and that's smart," said Dambrot. "But I also know he came home because he now thinks he can win at home."
Dambrot paused, and then speculated a bit -- insisting he didn't know any of these things for certain.
"I believe LeBron knew that Kevin Love wanted to play with him and there could be a way to get Love to wherever LeBron was playing this season," said Dambrot. "And he had a good idea that some of his old teammates from Miami (Mike Miller, James Jones) would want to play with him.
"(Cavs Owner) Dan Gilbert was a big part of it. LeBron knows that he needs an owner who wants to win as much as he does -- and is willing to spend the money. That's Dan Gilbert."
Dambrot also wasn't surprised that Gilbert and James had a meeting where they moved past their problems from The Decision Show and Gilbert's critical letter of James in 2010.
James isn't a grudge-holder, explained Dambrot.
"LeBron builds and maintains relationships," he said. "Both guys (Gilbert and James) want the same thing."
LeBron James and Keith Dambrot watch a high school game together.John Kuntz / The Plain Dealer
THE LEADER
Dambrot was impressed when he watched Cavs coach David Blatt run a practice. He also could see the relationship between Blatt and James growing.
"Coach Blatt is smart enough to know that you need the best player working with you," said Dambrot. "And if LeBron thinks you can coach, he will completely support you. LeBron doesn't care about your pedigree, or if you played in the NBA. He wants to know if you can coach and if you can make a team better and win."
James is consistently sending messages in the media to his teammates. In some cases, they are the same words that he has told them in private. He is pushing for the team to be better defensively and share the ball on offense.
"Coach Blatt worked on defense in the practice that I watched," said Dambrot. "As a coach, he has won in a lot of places all over the world. LeBron respects that. But in the end, it's how you coach and what you know that matters most."
When Dambrot coached James in his first two years of high school, the biggest challenge was boredom for his young star.
Dambrot has called James a "basketball genius" in terms of his ability to learn plays quickly and understand the game.
"We'd play a bad team, win big and he'd score 12 points," said Dambrot. "He'd spend most of the game trying to get his teammates involved and let them score. Then in tough game when we needed him, LeBron would score 40 or 50."
LEBRON'S MAGIC
As James approaches the age of 30, Dambrot sees him evolving "more into a Magic Johnson-type player at this stage of his career."
Dambrot said James knows he is surrounded by talented scorers, and some nights he will allow them to pile up the points.
"He'll move the ball around for guys like Kyrie (Irving), Dion (Waiters) and Love," said Dambrot. "He'll watch them score and he'll love it. He prefers to play that way -- rather than score a lot all the time."
Dambrot believes that James has become "a leader who is second to none," when it comes to the modern NBA.
"LeBron holds himself to such high standards as a player and how he treats people," said Dambrot. "That's a big part of leadership, and he does it well."
http://www.cleveland.com/pluto/index.ssf/2014/10/post_111.html
By Terry Pluto, The Plain Dealer
Follow on Twitter
on October 28, 2014 at 11:55 AM, updated October 28, 2014 at 11:56 AM
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The first time I talked to LeBron James, he was 15 years old. He had just finished his first year at Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary.
His coach, Keith Dambrot, told me that James was an elite Division I prospect, but he'd probably never even make it to college.
He was NBA bound ... at 15.
But he was only 15. We sat in the bleachers in the old St. Vincent-St, Mary gym. It was after an open gym, and James was eating Skittles and sounding like a 15-year-old.
Nearly 15 years later, he is one of the mature voices in the NBA, having one of the most remarkable careers in league history.
And perhaps the most amazing chapter begins now ... with his return to the Cavaliers.
"I know it's sounds strange, but nothing LeBron accomplishes surprises me," said Dambrot on Monday.
Now the coach at the University of Akron, Dambrot talked about meeting James for the first time when James was in the seventh grade. Dambrot ran clinics for kids at the Akron Jewish Community Center on Sunday nights.
Dru Joyce III and his father used to come. One day, they brought James.
"Here's the strange part," said Dambrot. "LeBron was not that big, maybe 5-foot-11."
James is now listed at 6-foot-8, 250 pounds.
LeBron James during his freshman year at St. Vincent-St. Mary when he played for Keith Dambrot. Patty Burdon Special to the Plain Dealer
SOME HISTORY
"From the beginning, you could tell two things about LeBron -- besides him having great talent," said Dambrot. "First, he was very smart. And second, he wanted to please. That's why he usually ends up doing the right thing in the end."
Dambrot coached James in his first two years at St. Vincent-St. Mary's. It was Dru Joyce III who first made the decision to attend St. V-M so he could play for Dambrot. James and Sian Cotton followed. That was in 1999. A year later, Romeo Travis transferred to the school.
Dru Joyce II became an assistant coach for Dambrot -- and then took over as head coach of the Irish in the final two seasons that James played there.
Dambrot was 16-9 for the Irish before James. In the next two years, they were 53-1 with two state titles.
Then Dambrot moved on to Akron to become an assistant coach. He has been the Zips head coach for the last 10 seasons, his record is 231-107. His teams have made three appearances in the NCAA tournament, three more in the National Invitational Tournament.
Dambrot talks and exchanges texts with James a few times each year.
James invited Dambrot to a training camp Cavs practice in early October. They also talked for about an hour not long after James made his decision to return to the Cavs.
COMING HOME
Dambrot was not surprised by either of the big decisions made by James -- be it the first to leave the Cavs for Miami in 2010, or the second to return in 2014.
"I don't think LeBron ever wanted to leave," said Dambrot. "But he didn't think he could win here (in 2010). This is home, he'd rather play here."
When Miami was wiped out in the NBA Finals, Dambrot had a sense James would return home. James didn't tell him, it was just a feeling that Dambrot had from knowing James so long.
"The place he always wanted to win a title was Cleveland," said Dambrot. "It was important for him to win those two in Miami. He had to go there and win a title. But doing it here would be special."
Consider that James has been to the Finals in 5-of-10 seasons in the NBA. That includes 2007 with the Cavs, who were swept by San Antonio.
"I know that LeBron is talking about patience, and that's smart," said Dambrot. "But I also know he came home because he now thinks he can win at home."
Dambrot paused, and then speculated a bit -- insisting he didn't know any of these things for certain.
"I believe LeBron knew that Kevin Love wanted to play with him and there could be a way to get Love to wherever LeBron was playing this season," said Dambrot. "And he had a good idea that some of his old teammates from Miami (Mike Miller, James Jones) would want to play with him.
"(Cavs Owner) Dan Gilbert was a big part of it. LeBron knows that he needs an owner who wants to win as much as he does -- and is willing to spend the money. That's Dan Gilbert."
Dambrot also wasn't surprised that Gilbert and James had a meeting where they moved past their problems from The Decision Show and Gilbert's critical letter of James in 2010.
James isn't a grudge-holder, explained Dambrot.
"LeBron builds and maintains relationships," he said. "Both guys (Gilbert and James) want the same thing."
LeBron James and Keith Dambrot watch a high school game together.John Kuntz / The Plain Dealer
THE LEADER
Dambrot was impressed when he watched Cavs coach David Blatt run a practice. He also could see the relationship between Blatt and James growing.
"Coach Blatt is smart enough to know that you need the best player working with you," said Dambrot. "And if LeBron thinks you can coach, he will completely support you. LeBron doesn't care about your pedigree, or if you played in the NBA. He wants to know if you can coach and if you can make a team better and win."
James is consistently sending messages in the media to his teammates. In some cases, they are the same words that he has told them in private. He is pushing for the team to be better defensively and share the ball on offense.
"Coach Blatt worked on defense in the practice that I watched," said Dambrot. "As a coach, he has won in a lot of places all over the world. LeBron respects that. But in the end, it's how you coach and what you know that matters most."
When Dambrot coached James in his first two years of high school, the biggest challenge was boredom for his young star.
Dambrot has called James a "basketball genius" in terms of his ability to learn plays quickly and understand the game.
"We'd play a bad team, win big and he'd score 12 points," said Dambrot. "He'd spend most of the game trying to get his teammates involved and let them score. Then in tough game when we needed him, LeBron would score 40 or 50."
LEBRON'S MAGIC
As James approaches the age of 30, Dambrot sees him evolving "more into a Magic Johnson-type player at this stage of his career."
Dambrot said James knows he is surrounded by talented scorers, and some nights he will allow them to pile up the points.
"He'll move the ball around for guys like Kyrie (Irving), Dion (Waiters) and Love," said Dambrot. "He'll watch them score and he'll love it. He prefers to play that way -- rather than score a lot all the time."
Dambrot believes that James has become "a leader who is second to none," when it comes to the modern NBA.
"LeBron holds himself to such high standards as a player and how he treats people," said Dambrot. "That's a big part of leadership, and he does it well."
http://www.cleveland.com/pluto/index.ssf/2014/10/post_111.html
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