Former Cleveland Cavaliers teammates Richard Jefferson and Iman Shumpert joined Rachel Nichols and Tracy McGrady on Friday afternoon’s episode of The Jump. Amid their discussion, Jefferson and Shumpert shared a laugh about the matching set of suits that the Cavs players wore prior to Games 3 and 4.
As a sign of team unity, LeBron James gifted the Thom Browne suits to his teammates prior to Game 3. The Cavs have went 1-1 with their new dress code. Will the trend continue?
“Shump would’ve done it, but he would’ve wore a cowboy hat,” Jefferson said of the Cavs’ matching suits. “He would’ve cut the sleeves off.”
“It’s hard for me to come uniform,” Shumpert said in agreement. “All of their suits look off-the-rack. I just don’t like that.”
James, now 33 years of age and in his 15th season of NBA service, is currently playing some of the best basketball of his illustrious career. Whether the suits have helped or not, James seems to be on a mission. Through the first five games of this series, the King has racked up averages of 34.8 points (career-high) on 55.0 percent shooting from the field (28.0 percent from beyond the arc), 11.4 rebounds, 8.0 assists, 1.0 block, and 1.0 steal in a whopping 42.6 minutes per game.
“I’m with all of this camaraderie,” Shumpert said. “I’ve always loved how Bron’ has always tried to make it a we thing — he’s tried. At times, the way he plays might not be a we thing at that moment, but it’s like that with all of the greats.
“As far as off the court and preparing for battle and going through it, he always makes it we we we we we,” Shumpert continued. “At the end of the game, there are times when we all know he’s about to shoot it, but he’s telling everybody else (where to be). It’s always we.”
James and the Cavs will be back in action on Friday night, as they’re scheduled to face the Pacers inside Bankers Life Fieldhouse for Game 6. Tip-off is set for 8:00 p.m. EST with ESPN, FOX Sports Ohio and FOX Sports Indiana having live broadcast coverage.