Tales from the Cleveland Cavaliers: Lebron James's Rookie Season

The Cleveland Cavaliers opened the 2003-04 season against the Sacramento Kings. In reality, though, the Cavs’ season really began when they acquired a king five months earlier. The woebegone Cavaliers, just off a 17-65 season—their fourth straight year of 50 defeats or more—hit the jackpot. They garnered the number one pick in the June NBA draft by winning the league’s draft lottery. That meant one thing—LeBron was coming to town, or rather, sticking around. As in LeBron James, the sensational high school phenom who led nearby Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary to state titles in three of his four years there. Now referred to as "King James," LeBron became the first high school underclassman featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated when he was billed as "The Chosen One" in his junior year. James traveled some 35 miles up Interstate 77 to carry on his stellar hoops career. In 2002-03, he led his high school team to a state title. The next season, he almost steered his professional team to its first postseason appearance in six years. The Cavs more than doubled their victory total from the year before, finishing 35-47 as James became the first Cavalier to win the NBA’s Rookie of the Year honor.

In Tales from the Cleveland Cavaliers: The Rookie Season of LeBron James, readers will find anecdotes about this special rookie and rare commodity—plus the rest of the Cavaliers, from celebrations on the day lottery luck shone upon the team and the anticipation of LeBron’s debut in Sacramento to disappointments like the season-opening five-game losing streak and 6-19 start; from the excitement of a young team maturing under the guidance of battle-tested head coach Paul Silas to the shrewd moves of general manager Jim Paxson. There were also the virtually absurd moments, like the near riot on LeBron James bobblehead night and the heartbreak of point guard Jeff McInnis’s lateseason injury that likely cost the Cavs a playoff berth. Through the eyes and ears of the media, coaches, players, fans and more, Tales from the Cleveland Cavaliers: The Rookie Season of LeBron James is a must-read for any Cleveland Cavaliers or NBA fan. It is a whimsical reflection on the rebirth of a forlorn franchise that was quite possibly a ping-pong ball away from relocating to Louisville, Kentucky. It is a look back at how a team led by a teenage kid with remarkable skills, awesome strength, and incredible poise went from being the laughingstock of the NBA to being a true playoff contender and a force to be reckoned with in the years to come.

• ISBN13: 9781582618395

• Condition: USED - Very Good

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