Cavaliers pull even — after James statue buzz
CLEVELAND— LeBron James scored 44 points and the Cavaliers beat the Boston Celtics 111102, tying the NBA Eastern Conference final at two games apiece. Game 5 goes Wednesday in Boston.
Earlier, word spread that a GoFundMe account was established with a goal to raise $1 million to sculpt and erect a lifesize statue of James in Akron, where he began his basketball career before becoming a superstar with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Aaron Carey, who like James played at Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, began the campaign to raise money to honour the three-time NBA champion.
“We want to do this with the fans,” Carey told the Akron Beacon-Journal. “We want fans to be able to thank LeBron for what he has done for Akron and the Cavs.”
Carey told the newspaper he has been in contact with artist Omri Amrany, who has created statues for basketball greats Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal, Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
James was touched by the gesture.
“First of all, thank you,” he said before Game 4.
“It would be cool, not only for myself, but for my family and all the people that had anything to do with this journey thus far. I’m appreciative even of the thought.”
The 33-year-old is trying to advance to the NBA final for the eighth straight time. To do that, the Cavaliers must eliminate the Celtics, in a series now tied 2-2.
An initial rendering of a possible statue by Amrany shows James soaring toward the basket, with his right arm cocked back to deliver a dunk while wearing his signature Nikes and his No. 23 high school jersey.
Carey said a site for the statue has not been finalized.
James laughed when asked if he had a preference on how the statue would depict him.
“I don’t have a particular pose in mind,” he said. “I think it’s the thought that counts, it’s pretty cool.”