Nick Gilbert, son of Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert, underwent successful brain surgery at a Detroit-area hospital earlier this week. After eight hours of procedures, Nick had just one question for his father:
“Did the Cavs beat OKC?”
Indeed they did, Nick.
Led by LeBron James’ 37-point performance, the Cavs managed to extend their winning streak to four games with a 120-112 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night.
Nick, now 21 years of age, was born with a rare condition called neurofibromatosis (NF), which is a nerve disorder that causes tumors to from anywhere in the human body, including the brain, spinal cord, or nerves. There is no known prevention or cure, however, surgery can be performed to remove tumors that have become problematic or cancerous.
Most hoops fans will remember Nick as the 14-year-old boy who served as the Cavs’ representative in the 2011 and 2013 NBA Lotteries. He was later accepted as Cleveland’s good luck charm, as the team won the No. 1 overall pick in both instances. His jovial personality, signature bowtie, and “What’s not to like?” one-liner beamed nothing but positive energy in a time when the team was enduring a difficult transition phase.
“It’s tough,” Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue told ESPN earlier this week. “A lot of guys sent out a video to Gillie (Monday). Just wished him luck. We’re all praying for him and wish him the best. Hate to see a young guy go through that, let alone anyone, but being so young and having so much spirit that he has is great. So we are all praying for him and wish him well.”
Nick will still have challenges ahead of him, but this is certainly good news and is a testament to the strong fighter inside. Let’s continue to keep the Gilbert family in our thoughts and prayers going forward.