Media

Cavs Teammates Pull Ultimate Prank on LeBron James After Wizards Game

Published by
Brad Sullivan

Milestones have become a way of life for Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James, who entered the top 10 for in all-time scoring last Saturday. However, during Friday’s 105-94 victory over the Washington Wizards, he also eclipsed the 27,000-point mark for his career, something that his teammates took great pains to acknowledge after the game.

Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal recounted what amounted to a surprise attack on James, who was under the impression that the team was acknowledging a milestone for head coach Tyronn Lue. James wasn’t sure what the milestone was, yet went along with his teammates when Lue addressed the team in the locker room after the game.

Lue noted that James had gone past the 27,000-point mark, which served as the trigger for his teammates to douse him with water bottles. James, already dressed for the plane flight home, ended up soaked. In addition, the suede Nike shoes he was wearing ended up soggy and his phone also took on some water damage.

Despite his situation, James was very appreciative of the recognition.

“They lied to me,” James said. “They rushed me. They got all my clothes wet and everything, but, that’s my guys so it’s always great to be able to accomplish something with such a great group of guys.”

James avoided getting completely engulfed by teammate Kevin Love, whose original plan was to use an ice tub full of water. After being unable to find one, his effort at tossing a small bit of water was stopped when James slapped his arm away.

Love was asked afterward why he was thinking so big.

“I’m the ice bucket guy,” Love said. “I don’t like the little bottles. I like to go big or go home.”

Had James been doused during the game, he might have ended up with pneumonia. That’s because everyone in the Verizon Center felt a chill in the air that evening, with James commenting on the situation after the game.

“Throughout my whole pre-workout before the game started, I was cold the whole time,” James said. “I was able to at least get my body going. But absolutely you can feel it (when it’s cold).”

The 7-1 Cavaliers return to action on Sunday afternoon with a 3:30 p.m. home contest against the 6-2 Charlotte Hornets.

Brad Sullivan

Brad Sullivan is a lead writer for Cavaliers Nation. He has spent much of life in the Cleveland, Ohio area, and has remained a Cavalier fan from their 1970 beginnings through the return of LeBron James. While that fandom was sorely tested during the Reign of Error known simply by one word, Stepien, that overall historical perspective will be part of his writing for Cavaliers Nation in the months ahead.

Published by
Brad Sullivan

Recent Posts

Report: Cavs knew they needed roster infusion after getting ‘punched in the face’

The Cleveland Cavaliers got busy around the trade deadline this season, completing two major deals…

2 days ago

Kendrick Perkins theorizes Kenny Atkinson isn’t allowed to bench James Harden

Even though the Cleveland Cavaliers successfully made it to the Eastern Conference Finals this season,…

3 days ago

2016 Cavs champ says he was ‘screaming’ on plane amid team’s Game 1 meltdown

The Cleveland Cavaliers fell apart in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the…

3 days ago

Channing Frye drops Donovan Mitchell injury theory: ‘Something gotta be up’

Cleveland Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell certainly wasn't the reason his team lost in Game 1…

3 days ago

DeMarcus Cousins questions James Harden after Game 1: ‘Does he want it or not?’

Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals was a nightmare for the Cleveland Cavaliers and…

3 days ago

Jeff Teague says it’s ‘over’ for the Cavs: ‘That was your chance’

Before the Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks even began their series in the Eastern…

3 days ago