LOS ANGELES -- Nine months ago, during NBA All-Star Weekend in Cleveland, LeBron James -- the Akron native who spent 11 years with the Cavaliers -- appointed himself the city’s honorary third All-Star.
Darius Garland. Jarrett Allen. LeBron.
That was then. This is now. Cleveland doesn’t need LeBron. Not as a symbolic third All-Star -- the Cavs already have their own All-Star trio following the stunning addition of Donovan Mitchell this summer. Not to be a legitimate title contender, either, finally emerging from the rebuild darkness and transforming into one of the league’s deepest, most connected and talented teams.
Without him.
LeBron, who spoke in glowing terms about the Cavs’ turnaround at the 2022 NBA All-Star Game, got a close-up Sunday afternoon.
“They did a great job in the offseason of picking up a big-time player,” James said of the Cavs, who trounced the Lakers 114-100. “I think we saw last year what kind of team they could become. Then the injuries happen and they end up slipping and having to play in the play-in. We know what happened there. But they have a really good team, a great coach, well-balanced and a bunch of kids on their team that seem like they just want to play ball.
“I’m looking at their roster and don’t see too many guys all over social media, showing off that they’ve got this and they’ve got that. Just a bunch of guys that come to work and just want to play ball. It’s probably a joy for a coach and coaching staff, just knowing you have a bunch of kids that want to come in and play ball and a grandpa (Kevin Love) that looks over everybody.”
The Cavs haven’t been to the playoffs without James since 1998 -- a streak that could end this season, as Cleveland looks like one of the Eastern Conference’s best over the first few weeks. It doesn’t have a playoff series win without him since 1993. He’s the only player in league history to win the Finals MVP with three franchises -- the Heat, Cavs and Lakers. Cleveland’s success over the last two decades has typically been tied to James.
For the first couple years following his departure to Los Angeles, the Cavs were the NBA’s doormat, bombarded with questions about whether they would ever return to prominence again.
They turned the corner last season, winning 44 games and advancing to the play-in tournament. This season has been an even bigger step, winning eight of the first nine and currently riding an eight-game streak.
“When you’re going through it, it’s long,” Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff said of the rebuild. “Those first couple of years, they don’t go by quick at all. But here we are. We were extremely fortunate in growth and development and I think we were extremely fortunate in pick availability. Then give our front office a ton of credit for making a lot of really good decisions. I think our front office has had a hell of a plan. We have been fortunate to have guys that have bought in.”
Re-signing Love when LeBron bolted for L.A.
Drafting Garland No. 5 overall in 2019 despite already having a ball-dominant guard (Collin Sexton) on the roster.
Landing Evan Mobley with the third pick in 2021. Trades for Allen, Ricky Rubio, Caris LeVert, Lauri Markkanen and, most recently, Donovan Mitchell.
Those are just some of the shrewd maneuvers that have helped Cleveland get to this point.
The Cavs have much bigger goals than a sleepy Sunday afternoon win against the foundering, ill-fitting Lakers. And yet, the triumph felt important. It was a clear role reversal, almost like a turn-the-page moment.
“You’ve got to always have respect and have appreciation for LeBron and what he did here,” Mitchell said. “I grew up a Cavs fan and I’m very aware of ‘Bron. But I don’t think that’s what we went into the game thinking. I didn’t know the history, that he has continuously won. Didn’t know that until after the game. But you always have to respect greatness and when greatness is on the floor you try to find a way to go out there and compete and get a win.
“For me personally and for the group, I wouldn’t say that’s what this was for. We came out just trying to do what we’ve been doing and that was against ‘Bron. We’re just looking to build our own different culture. None of us here are LeBron James. We’re all different in different types of ways. We want to build our own culture and do it differently while always having respect for what he’s done for Cleveland and the organization.”
The Cavs had lost five straight against LeBron’s Lakers. The lone win since 2018 came when he wasn’t playing. In many of those matchups, he toyed with them and sent repeated reminders of what they once had. Lakers-Cavs felt like varsity vs. junior varsity -- two franchises on opposite ends of the contender spectrum.
But on Sunday afternoon, Cleveland’s young stars overshadowed LeBron on his own stage. They bumped him from the marquee.
Mitchell, the three-time All-Star who has brought a different level of belief to the locker room and city, poured in a game-high 33 points. With the Cavs looking starry-eyed, jet-lagged and lethargic early in the game, Mitchell kept the team afloat, stabilizing the offense by pouring in jumpers and flying toward the rim. He accounted for 17 of their first 22 points.
Garland chipped in with 24 points and seven assists. Allen overcame early foul trouble, recording another double-double with 16 points and 11 boards.
This time, LeBron was on the other end of the back-breaking runs, timely shots and on-court theatrics. He was the one on the bench helplessly watching as the final seconds ticked away on a blowout. He was the one answering questions about the franchise’s direction and whether there’s enough collective talent on the roster to compete with the league’s upper echelon teams after the Cavs held his Lakers to just 36 points over the final 24 minutes.
The Cavs, not the Lakers, were the better team, the one worthy of national notoriety and title talk. They were the headliners, showcasing that there is a new era of Cavaliers basketball -- and their success is no longer only synonymous with him.
“That’s what we’re playing for – a championship, a trophy,” Garland said. “LeBron does a lot for the city and did a lot for the city. Just having a whole different generation of guys, with a whole bunch of talent and a great team overall that everybody loves, it would mean a lot for us and the city of Cleveland to make the playoffs without him. That’s what we’re going for and we’re pushing forward, trying to get there.”
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