Over the past two decades, the Cleveland Cavaliers have been synonymous with LeBron James.
Batman vs. Spider-Man: Comparing Cavs Eras
The LeBron James Era
James is the best player in franchise history. That’s not just because of his career accomplishments, but the way he’s left his mark on the Cavs specifically.
He ranks first in myriad categories, including games played (849), points (23,119), assists (6,228), rebounds (6,190), steals (1,376), and triple-doubles (64). Just as importantly, he delivered the franchise their first championship and in historic fashion, mounting the only 3-1 NBA Finals comeback and taking down a 73-9 team headlined by Stephen Curry, a game-changing future Hall of Famer. In fact, he’s the only star who seemed capable of leading them to the playoffs.
On top of all that, he’s a homegrown talent. The Kid From Akron was raised less than an hour away from Cleveland. As a result, there’s sentimental value to him putting on a Cavs uniform and dominating.
The Dark Knight
James’s favorite superhero is Batman and that’s who he was for the organization.
They put up the ‘bat signal,’ and he came to the rescue. He put his body and mind through intense trainings, day and night. He spent beaucoup money to ensure that he was in tip-top shape. Though he often seems superhuman, he’s more so just a not-so-normal person.
He’s also been able to swallow his pride when it’s necessary, joining forces with other stars and forming his own Justice League. That being said, the 20-time All-Star is often criticized for who he’s teamed up with.
In his first stint, James didn’t push for too many specific roster targets. Cleveland already had a couple of pretty good players, like Zydrunas Ilgauskas. However, James made the game easier for Ilgauskus with his passing. When they traded for Shaquille O’Neal, he was in his penultimate season and well past his prime.
In his second stint, the Cavs already had Kyrie Irving but he asked for Kevin Love, trying to replicate The Heatles. Neither Irving nor Love had shown themselves capable of leading a playoff team up to that point though. So, while they helped James with the heavy lifting, they needed him more than the other way around. That’s without even noting how James mentored Irving on how to play point guard.
The problem is that the Cavs were too reliant on James. When he missed a game, it was like the sun fell out of orbit. When he actually decided to leave, the Dark Knight left the city shrouded in darkness.
The Donovan Mitchell Era
For the first time since the 1990s, the Cavs have a perennial playoff contender that’s not built around James. Even more enthralling is that they’re not wholly reliant on the team MVP: Donovan Mitchell.
A five-time All-Star at the age of 28, Mitchell is one of the most gifted players to put on a Cavs jersey. He’s only been with the team since 2022-23, so he hasn’t really put a stamp on their record books. Nonetheless, he’s tied with James for the team’s highest points average (27.2) and fourth-highest steal average (1.6) in franchise history.
He was also been a driving force behind them starting this season 15-0, tied for the second-longest undefeated streak in NBA history. Darius Garland and Evan Mobley’s breakout performances have been invaluable. Kenny Atkinson instilling offensive principles espoused by the Golden State Warriors was essential. Cleveland also has strength in numbers, as a different player could lead the team in scoring on any night.
Ty Jerome Postgame On Why He’s So Comfortable With The Cavs:
“I look to my right, I see the MVP Donovan. I look behind me, I see Ev and JA. It just frees me up to be myself.” pic.twitter.com/aaMSdDFjps
— Dylan🔮🪼🎃 (@DylanWDesign_) November 21, 2024
Still, they’ll go as far as Mitchell takes them and they know that.
Friendly Neighborhood Hero
Mitchell’s nickname, “Spida,” does him justice.
He can jump out of the gym. His movements are silky and he has the ball on a string. With some of the passes he’s made, he might have six more eyes. However, Mitchell is more Spider-Man than spider.
He’s come to the Cavs rescue, treating the red-headed franchise like it was Mary Jane. While several players have turned their noses up at Cleveland, he sees it as a home. By the time he signed an extension with the Cavs in the 2024 offseason, the rumors linking him to the New York Knicks had already lost steam. Yet, a player of his caliber hadn’t committed to Cleveland in years.
Sure, Love wanted to stay and be the top option after James’s second departure. Nonetheless, his best years had already passed by then. Mitchell is firmly in the middle of his. Furthermore, with great power comes great responsibility. Love wasn’t ready to be the leader the Cavs needed, on or off the court, after James left. Mitchell is.
Spider-Man might not be as successful as Batman, but the friendly neighborhood hero is going to be celebrated for a long time.
