Cleveland Cavaliers swingman Caris LeVert played in the 454th game of his NBA career in a 5,280-foot altitude Sunday during a 130-101 loss to the Denver Nuggets. While that contest was certainly forgettable for the Cavaliers, every game that LeVert plays has special meaning following successful kidney cancer surgery more than three years ago. “Obviously, I’m grateful to still be playing basketball, to be honest with you,” LeVert told Andscape. “It was something that was superunexpected. It just gave me perspective as to how lucky I am to be doing this for a living.” LeVert has averaged 14.1 po ..read more

LeBron’s Power Plays is an occasional series examining LeBron James’ two decades in the NBA and how he has influenced both professional sports and the larger culture. Just past midnight in Akron, Ohio, the night before the 2003 NBA draft lottery, LeBron James finally arrived at a decision. The 18-year-old nicknamed “King James” put pen to paper on his rookie endorsement contract with Nike, worth a reported $87 million fully guaranteed over seven years. To this day, James’ Nike contract remains the richest rookie shoe deal ever signed by a basketball player. At 7:54 a.m. in Beaverton, Oregon, o ..read more

CLEVELAND — Before becoming a lottery pick, an All-Star and a first-time participant in this year’s NBA playoffs, little Darius Garland routinely waited patiently for his hero to arrive home after a day’s work. “When I was about 3 or 4, I had a Little Tikes basketball hoop,” said Garland, point guard for the Cleveland Cavaliers. “I’d be at the door waiting for him wearing a basketball uniform and a headband.” And for 30 or so minutes, five days a week, father and son would engage in basketball bliss. “He’d sit on the floor, throw lobs at the goal and I’d shoot fadeaways and fall like Kobe,” Ga ..read more

PORTLAND, Ore. — One of the most notable days in NBA history was when LeBron James debuted as a rookie on Oct. 29, 2003, for the Cleveland Cavaliers against the Sacramento Kings. Also on that night nearly 20 years ago, Peja Stojakovic scored a game-high for the Kings, while Michael Stewart did not play due to coach’s decision and teammate Dajuan Wagner was out to injury for the Cavaliers. Come Saturday, those sidenotes from that historic game will suddenly matter. All four of those aforementioned players have sons — Bronny James, Andrej Stojakovic, Sean Stewart and D.J. Wagner — who will be pl ..read more

In recognition of Rihanna’s Super Bowl LVII halftime performance and LeBron James’ support of her at the game in Phoenix, Andscape takes a look back at Rihanna’s longstanding fandom of “The King.” It must be nice being LeBron James. He has a beautiful family: three children and his stunning wife, Savannah. He’s one of the most beloved athletes in the world. He gives back. He’s the NBA’s foremost hip-hop tastemaker. He’s an adopted nephew of Barack and Michelle Obama. And he’s the best player in the world — with a growing resume worthy of the best player of all time. He’s a member of the “one n ..read more

Nearly 21 years ago to this day, a teenage LeBron James was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated with the title “The Chosen One.” The basketball prodigy did not shy away from that bold declaration. Shortly after, he had “Chosen 1” tattooed on his back while in high school. “When I saw the tattoo in the locker room. I was like, ‘Dang, man. Oh. OK. I’m with it,’ ” said Chris Dennis, who ran James’ website when he was in high school and during his early NBA years. “I took a step back. My mind was like, ‘Damn, that’s how you feel?’ But he knew his capabilities.” It’s safe to say now that th ..read more

Only Adrian Dantley, Karl Malone and “Pistol” Pete Maravich averaged more points per game in a Utah Jazz uniform than Donovan Mitchell. Mitchell also ranks eighth all-time in scoring in Jazz history in just five seasons in Salt Lake City. Moreover, “Spida” made a charitable impact with his money and time that will long be remembered by Jazz fans and Utahans. There are 12 numbers retired in Jazz history. But even with his impact on and off the court in Utah, the former Jazz star does not believe his No. 45 jersey deserves to be hanging in the rafters retired at Vivint Arena. “I don’t think I di ..read more

CLEVELAND — There is no denying Paul Silas’ label as a rugged, no-nonsense former NBA player and head coach. As a player, Silas was NBA All-Defensive first team twice and second team three times, a two-time All-Star and winner of three NBA titles (1974 and 1976 with the Boston Celtics, and 1979 with the Seattle SuperSonics). But his role as an enforcer not only cleared the way for his teams, it also inspired Maurice Lucas, who described his first meeting with his hero in a 2003 interview. In 1973, Lucas was a member of a collegiate all-star team preparing for international play, but the team f ..read more

CLEVELAND — Screams of elation and disbelief came from the mouths of 25 elementary school students when they looked through the grocery store windows at their Afro-wearing, nearly 7-foot host. Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen was swarmed and welcomed with smiles as he entered his sixth annual Meals and Math Thanksgiving event on Nov. 17. It was the first time since 2019 that Allen was able to hold his event in person because of the coronavirus pandemic. The children weren’t alone in their exuberance. “We had to do Zoom calls during COVID and it’s not the same without the kids in person ..read more

When he was the coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers, John Lucas routinely filled his offseasons with individual workouts and packed gyms for pickup games with high school, college and professional basketball players. And May 22, 2002, wasn’t any different for the then-first-year Cavaliers coach when Lucas opened the practice court on the fourth floor of Gund Arena (now Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse). Lucas invited me to the gym that day as well. As a beat reporter covering the Cavaliers for The Plain Dealer at the time, I was the only media person there. But neither of us, nor anyone else in attenda ..read more