The city of Cleveland has already watched LeBron James walk from his hometown once before. Now, they’re pulling out all the stops to make the decision to leave the Cavaliers harder the second time around.
So this is already happening in Akron pic.twitter.com/f5ekd5bsI6
— Ben Axelrod (@BenAxelrod) August 19, 2017
“Stay home” T-shirts and hats were spotted in Akron, Ohio — LeBron’s hometown — in a marketing attempt to keep the best basketball player on planet Earth in a Cavaliers jersey. James becomes an unrestricted free agent next summer and has been linked to heading cross-country to join the Los Angeles Lakers.
The decision would be tougher this time around. After all, LeBron has guided the Cavaliers to three consecutive NBA Finals appearances, including the franchise’s lone championship victory over the Golden State Warriors in 2016. His best odds at winning another championship — his fourth to pull him within two of Michael Jordan — are in Cleveland, as heading out West would result in a conference playoffs matchup against the Warriors, Rockets or Spurs.
But LeBron left Cleveland in the past. Kyrie Irving’s doesn’t want to play with The King anymore, and James’s chances at taking down the Warriors — in a Cavaliers jersey, at least — could be out the door with his All-Star point guard.
That’s why the city of Akron is already letting The King know how much the value him with these Stay Home hats and shirts. Because they know what life without LeBron James is like in Cleveland. And if he leaves again, you can bet the house he’s not coming back.