Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James can become a free agent upon completion of this season, as most hoops fans know. The speculation as to where (if anywhere) the King might choose to go has been heating up in recent weeks, and several cities are making a conscious effort to recruit the three-time champion — with billboards.
That’s right. The billboard war is on…
Philadelphia was the first city in which advertisements aimed at James showed up.
https://twitter.com/WidgetsNGadgets/status/970003724385927168
Not to be outdone, Los Angeles decided to make a pitch to LeBron with their own series of billboards.
Finally, on Friday morning, it was reported that a Wizard of Oz-themed billboard has been set up on I-77 near Copley Road, just outside of Cleveland. “LeBron, there’s no place like home,” the billboard reads. Another is expected to be placed on State Route 18 in Medina.
Following Friday morning’s practice session at Cleveland Clinic Courts, James was asked to comment on the new signage.
Via Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com:
“I haven’t seen it, but, like I said before, it’s very flattering,” James said Friday, when asked for his thoughts on the “billboards,” without any explanation that they carried the familiar Wizard of Oz theme. “It’s just, I don’t know, it’s very humbling. I know my hometown, so, I already know there’s no place like Akron, that’s for sure.”
James, now 33 years of age and in his 15th season of NBA service, says he is remaining focused on the task at hand.
“It’s not that I ignore it,” James continued. “I mean, I see it, but I know what’s important. I’ve always been able to keep the main thing the main thing. I see pretty much everything. I have not seen that billboard just yet, but I will. I see and I hear pretty much everything, but I know what’s important. I know what keeps me focused. I know what the job is at hand and that’s just how I’ve always been. It’s been like that my whole life.”
The Cavs — now the 3rd-seeded team in the Eastern Conference standings with a 42-29 overall record — will close out their three-game home stand on Friday night with a matchup against the Phoenix Suns. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. EST with FOX SPorts Ohio having live broadcast coverage.