I think Dan Gilbert's reaction would give you a fair idea about the thoughts within the club of Lebron...I highly doubt they retire his jersey after the way he exited. Does he deserve it? probably, but I just can't see it happening.

I don't think stats alone should determine if a players number should be retired... Ewing and Robinson for example, both had great stats but more so where better leaders and also contributed plenty off the court!

So no I don't think LeBron should get his number retired by the cavs at this point or in near future

There's an honour and respect element to having your number retired, surely. Regardless of LeBron's career numbers to date, there's simply no way Cleveland will retire his number, ever (notwithstanding a highly-unlikely future LeBron return to the Cavs.) Having said that, there's probably no Cleveland player that will want to wear the number anyway, unless they bring it with them from another club.

re. other great Cleveland players, Mark Price comes to mind. Wikipedia lists these as Cleveland's currently-retired numbers:

• 7 Bingo Smith, F, 1970-79


• 22 Larry Nance, F, 1988–94


• 25 Mark Price, G, 1986–95


• 34 Austin Carr, G, 1971–80


• 42 Nate Thurmond, C, 1975–77


• 43 Brad Daugherty, C, 1986–94

hereschenes my Ehlo comment was tongue in cheek. I actually liked Mark Price, and the Price/Daugherty double in NBA Jam was sensational! ; )

I am on the fence here, part of me agrees with you regarding the honour factor etc, but part of me recognizes how good you need to be to average a near triple double for 7 seasons, and to take an average team to the Finals.

Bingo Smith is an awesome name.

Sorry DB5 - actually, beyond Mark Price and Craig Ehlo I run out of names! The Cavs to me have always been a completely non-interesting entity, until the LeBron years.

I suppose it's similar to the debates re. Barry Bonds and OJ Simpson - at what point should sporting honours and awards be cancelled out by off-field behaviour and controversy? I never really thought of LeBron's number being retired though - my knee-jerk answer is still "no way." Easy for us oustiders to kick it around I guess, but imagine if this was a discussion re. Julius Hodge (assuming he'd dominated the league for a few seasons before leaving the Sixers?) Given the level of emotion, the fans would tear the singlet down off the rafters if the club tried to retire it, and I suspect it would be the same with LeBron in Cleveland.

From the way the Cleveland Fans are reacting, they have their own slant on "retiring" his number.

From Sports Illustrated July 20th:

Stung by the NBA superstar's decision to leave Cleveland and play for Miami, Cavaliers fans have been unloading their unwanted No. 23 jerseys, T-shirts and other clothing items bearing James' name at locations around the city.

Organizers are shipping the discarded James gear to homeless shelters in South Florida.

"It's like any breakup," said Beau Miller, who began the campaign with three friends. "You want to give all your stuff back."

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/basketball/nba/07/20/lebron.gear.ap/index.html?xid=si_nba#ixzz0ulo58fXs

It could become the eternal flame of cleveland

no

so now cleveland people will hate the homeless cos they are wearing LeBron jerseys

..... only if they go to South Florida (ref #..795)

this is pretty stupid question...NO

he'll probably retire in Miami

No chance. Stats aren't enough. You have to demonstrate you give a crap about the franchise. Lebron didn't give a crap... instead he took a great big crap all over his former team on national TV.

Any reason why it is a stupid question LA Boy? I put it out there for discussion, so um thanks for your input.


Beantown, fair call regarding the crap, like I said, I am on the fence, just curious of other's opinions on the situation. Still cannot argue about what he did for Cleveland before this offseason.

Carr had his number retired for career averages of 15, 3 and 3.

This is not as crazy as it sounds.

Over time, the wounds of the nationally broadcast "The Decision" will heal, and perhaps Cleveland will realise that all Lebron wanted to do was join his friends and try and win multiple titles. He gave the Cavs 7 great years, took them further than ever before, but he just didn't have the supporting cast to get it done.

The way it was handled was terrible, but I think eventually people will lose the hate and realise his reasoning.

I can see in maybe 10-15 years the Cavs retiring his number - maybe once the Cavs have new owners.

Two things make me lean towards "No":

1. The way he announced he was leaving

2. The Boston series (looked like he quit on the team/coach/club to me)

They should retire #23... But out of respect for Jordan, like the Heat did.

I think that would be a nice snipe at LBJ.

of courses they should retire the number of the best player ever to play the ganme !! if Maiami Heat can retire Jordan's #23 and Dan Mariono's #13 and King retire #6 for fans (lame !!!!) - then what more the ebst player of all