Eight years after putting out an angry statement in which he guaranteed that the Cavaliers would win a championship before “the self-titled former ‘King'” did, Cavs owner Dan Gilbert has issued a more measured, thoughtful response to today’s news that LeBron James would once again be leaving Cleveland. For starters, this one isn’t written in Comic Sans.
[RELATED: LeBron James to sign four-year deal with Lakers]
Here’s Gilbert’s statement in full, via the Cavs’ website:
“We will always remember the evening of June 19, 2016 as the Cleveland Cavaliers, led by LeBron James, ended the 52-year drought delivering the long elusive championship that many thought they would never see… A championship that united generations of Clevelanders, both living and passed.
“Virtually anyone with roots in Northeast Ohio paused and felt the memories of the past and the utter joy that the burden of the so-called ‘curse’ was finally a thing of the past. Cleveland, Ohio was the home of a championship team for the first time since 1964. Words do not express the meaning and the feeling this accomplishment brought to the people of Northeast Ohio.
“None of this would have happened if LeBron James did not agree to come back home and lead the Cavaliers to the promised land. The entire Cavaliers franchise thanks LeBron for that precious moment and for all of the excitement he delivered as he led our team to four straight NBA Finals appearances.
“LeBron is a family man, first. We wish his kids, his wife Savannah, his mother Gloria, and LeBron himself nothing but the best in the years and decades ahead. LeBron’s connection to Akron, Cleveland and all of Northeast Ohio will most certainly endure as his commitment to the region and his support of many important causes has been impactful to so many kids and families.
“LeBron, you came home and delivered the ultimate goal. Nothing but appreciation and gratitude for everything you put into every moment you spent in a Cavaliers uniform. We look forward to the retirement of the famous #23 Cavs jersey one day down the line….”
Now THAT was a classy statement. Well done. I hope there’s also a statue for LBJ done day.
#cavsnewerabegins
#knicks? well….there’s always the Yankees.
Mr Dilbert: how does your crispy crow taste? “You should have got more for Kyrie….note from pacers fans”. The match is lit…enjoy your dumpster fire. Maybe you should hire/pay a GM. You are not the smartest guy in the room…..you and jerry jones must be Bud’s.
Your disdain for those more successful than you is noted.
They should have just traded Lebron and kept Kyrie. Everyone knew Lebron was gone after last season. Now they have nothing but Love.
Sorry, you don’t trade LBJ in his prime, especially not from Cleveland.
Even if they wanted to, they couldn’t. He had a no trade clause anyway.
Lebron did, and Gilbert brought Lebron back, so thank YOU sir.
Very well written. Classy for a change.
Thank you Mr Gilbert for making it all happen. Dig deep into those pockets to bring in the talent and to oh off the luxury taxes.
Looking forward to cavs basketball.
Lol not much to look forward too
I’m looking forward to it as well. Loved it when James was here, but it’ll be fun now that the circus has ended and the lead clown is at the end of his career playing it out in the west.
I think there will be a Cleveland act 3 as his last year in the league
Damn, didn’t expect such a class move from Gilbert. I’m not a Cavs fan, really not much of a LeBron fan, but at the end of the day, Bron delivered on his promise. Cheers to Gilbert and the Cavs for giving Bron the respect he deserves and welcome to L.A. Bron, I have no doubt it’s gonna be a helluva lot harder for me to get tix now.
Gilbert had no choice and that was written by someone else.
Nice letter.
Gotta give Gilbert props here.
Things like this shows how great LBJ is, how people talks about you when you gone, that is the mark of the man, & it comes to prove that LBJ is a giant in & off the court.
Gilbert being the bigger person this time around.
Just can’t believe Lebron left, again. I get he wants to send his kid to that pretentious high school, and his brand can thrive out there, but I personally think it was wrong to leave. He does do so much around the community. You know what the greatest thing he could do for the community would be, to stay. Taxpayers paid for the $70mm arena upgrade, NEO business are going to lose millions and millions of dollars. He states NEO will always be home and he considers this area “family”, he obviously didn’t care that much when he let his agency drop news of him leaving.
Nobody said he had to stay. In the grand scheme of things he’s not obligated to stay, and he only has one life to live. But what he could’ve did for this area for the next 4 years could’ve been looked back upon as his greatest accomplishment. Don’t get me wrong, his giving back will still be graciously remembered, but not in the same light.
Now he’ll be known for one of the greatest players, who played for 3 teams.
Only thing that is missing is some mention of moving forward. Thank him for coming back but now the organization and team must move forward. What are you going to do now or are you just going to tank and don’t want to admit it.
He didn’t make a public statement about life-after-LBJ but Windhurst reported that Gilbert had said to others a week ago, that while he wanted LBJ to return he would embrace and opportunity to TRY and build a winning team without LBJ. I think ppl took it the wrong way as if he was saying he looked forward or would be happy if LBJ left. He was immediately slammed for it even though it was a quote and there was no context to what was said. I think the letter was PURPOSELY written to thank LBJ and NOT give the media anything negative or cryptic to draw from and paint him in a negative light. Gilbert’s ability to feed into the media narrative of him being a bad guy is almost “trumponian”. He says what he feels and for an owner, you’re really not afforded that luxury. It’s a players league and the media backs them.
I wish Dan Gilbert had made that statement 4 years ago. But when Lebron stop recruiting 2 years ago and when you fired David Griffin the marriage ended. It was a matter of time! There was never trust between the 2. I hope Young Bull be the Answer! It looks like Boston and Philadelphia will be the team to beat!