After 52 years, Cleveland has a championship again, thanks to a spectacular Game 7 win by the Cavaliers on Sunday. On Wednesday, the city’s holding a parade for the team, and hours before it even starts, it’s already full of excitement. Fans have already hung up a huge shirt for J.R. Smith, who famously spent several hours shirtless between a celebratory trip to Vegas and the flight back to Cleveland.
JR's shirt has been found #cavsparade pic.twitter.com/AbH8VV14Vv
— CHAMPION (@Efrisco_) June 22, 2016
There’s a sculpture of LeBron James made out of dryer lint, which is ripe for any future selfies:
Take a selfie with LeBRON dryer lint sculpture in 5th street arcades Cleveland #ALLin216 #ThisisCLE #LebronJames pic.twitter.com/BBApHQmUOr
— sandy buffie (@sandybuffie) June 22, 2016
Meanwhile, the crowd in downtown Cleveland is packed:
Downtown Cleveland, #cavsparade from way up high @clevelanddotcom #ALLin216 pic.twitter.com/xWxIdqpPpx
— Mary Kilpatrick (@_marykilpatrick) June 22, 2016
This. Is. Real. Life. pic.twitter.com/gbwrQbcDgf
— T.D. Dery (@TD1TribeKU) June 22, 2016
Like, holy crap:
The Cavs should just crowdsurf through the city with the Larry O'Brien trophy pic.twitter.com/CM3j4jC3qO
— Cleveland Frowns (@ClevelandFrowns) June 22, 2016
It’s packed to the point where people have to climb portable toilets:
People already posting up on top of porta-potties downtown pic.twitter.com/z5FnUJZzA2
— Cleveland Frowns (@ClevelandFrowns) June 22, 2016
Former Browns running back Earnest Byner is also at the parade, and, uh, perhaps the NBA championship erases The Fumble? (Maybe?)
"It's good to be here." — @EByner #cavsparade #cavs #CavsChamps #allincle #allin216 pic.twitter.com/y4Khs3fZm2
— Cleveland Magazine (@ClevelandMag) June 22, 2016
Browns legend Jim Brown also came through and hung out with Byner:
Two legendary #Browns Running Backs, one photo. #cavsparade pic.twitter.com/ivQvBYPlfr
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) June 22, 2016
If you were wondering if J.R. Smith was still going shirtless, the answer is YES:
J.R. Smith going shirtless again. pic.twitter.com/J7QxBSwrJf
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) June 22, 2016
OK, now he's shirtless. A fan just yelled: "Never put on a shirt again!" pic.twitter.com/1YFbFlY6CG
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) June 22, 2016
This is worthy of a poster:
JR SMITH. @sportingnews pic.twitter.com/SedTRoT4t1
— Sean Gentille (@seangentille) June 22, 2016
And a shirtless fan took a picture with Shirtless J.R. Smith!
#ShirtlessForCLE pic.twitter.com/qP86pMv2XV
— SB Nation GIF (@SBNationGIF) June 22, 2016
Meanwhile, LeBron recorded a small message -- and almost dropped his phone -- for Cavs fans on Twitter:
LeBron James brings a championship parade with the @cavs to Cleveland! pic.twitter.com/PeytHHcgaF
— NBA (@NBA) June 22, 2016
And Kyrie Irving gave away a free hat:
At one point, LeBron crossed paths with his iconic banner and did the arms wide open pose ...
LeBron as he sees sign of himself at Huron & Ontario pic.twitter.com/01qpF0Reo6
— Marla Ridenour (@MRidenourABJ) June 22, 2016
There it is. pic.twitter.com/rRm110eHWZ
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) June 22, 2016
... while surrounded by a massive number of fans:
A couple WWE belts made some cameos, including the SMOKING SKULL BELT:
And now, a list of Cavaliers who decided to go shirtless with J.R. Smith:
Mo Williams:
Mo Williams is #ShirtlessForCLE pic.twitter.com/P05x1nODZk
— SB Nation GIF (@SBNationGIF) June 22, 2016
Kyrie Irving:
Iman Shumpert:
Iman Shumpert is also #ShirtlessForCLE pic.twitter.com/o9qeaxZ3Ac
— SB Nation GIF (@SBNationGIF) June 22, 2016
Here's J.R. Smith giving a few Cavs fans a champagne shower:
JR poppin' bottles #cavsparade pic.twitter.com/u5NJbLqJP2
— Lindsey Foltin (@LindseyBaseball) June 22, 2016
Smith also endorsed himself for president:
And the Independent candidate reveals himself. #PresidentialElection2016 #cavsparade pic.twitter.com/lOLuqnGyKi
— Mike Goldfarb (@Shaqtin_A_Fool) June 22, 2016
And then Smith picked up a young fan so he could also take in the parade's atmosphere:
Once that was all said and done, the team and the fans gathered at the rally where LeBron gave a heartfelt speech about each one of his teammates. Channing Frye stole a bit of show, however, when he literally dropped the mic:
Fittingly, Jim Brown stepped on stage and handed the Larry O'Brien trophy to LeBron.
1964-2016. We're Champions again, Cleveland! #OneForTheLand pic.twitter.com/BsJybqlTYh
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) June 22, 2016
Congratulations, Cleveland.