Thought I'd change it up a bit and put a different spin on this thread:
Favorite player I never saw live: Austin Carr just because he's AC. My "Carr #34" jersey was basically the only Cavs jersey I ever wore in public during the LBJ years to avoid any potential "bandwagon" nonsense that may have come my way.
Soft spot because of a particular play: Mo Williams annoyed me off the court but that
Godfather theme used to give me shivers. I'll never forget this play:
We had nothing to play for that year and yet this highlight has always stuck with me, probably because it ended the losing streak if I remember correctly? Donald Sloan also gets an honorable mention. I have no idea why I liked him - just did.
Favorite on-court Cavs: Delly gets the gig without question, just because he could've been our mascot in another life. The pure embodiment of hustle, grit, hard-work and determination,
and he was a fellow countryman.
He hasn't been in my good books for a while, but Kyrie Irving was about as mesmerizing as any player not named LeBron James that I've ever had the privileged of watching. Also born in Australia
, he's the only Cav I've ever met in person and will probably always be the guy whose wine and gold highlights package I'll forever watch.
Favorite off-court Cavs: Like most of you, it's RJ and Channing without a doubt. I'd probably have the two of them at the top of my top 10. What's interesting though, is that in an age not dominated by social media and the Internet, we may have never been given such an intimate insight into how these guys think and behave. But it's because of this (Snapchat, Road Trippin', the way they talk about the game of basketball and their Beavis and Butthead routine) that has them topping my list.
Outside of those two, Andy definitely gets an honorable mention. He gave everything to this city and this franchise and I can't help but feel like he was heartbroken when we cut ties with him to make way for Channing. He kept things together during those rough 4 years (even when he was injured) and always inspired hope in our basketball team. Tristan also owes a great deal of his career to the way Varejao helped craft his offensive rebounding.
Guy most likely to be added to my favorites list one day: Larry Nance Jr. I'm basically the unofficial leader of the LNJR fan club at this point. Guy has been everything I've ever wanted from a Cav - loves the city and the state of Ohio, he's intelligent and articulate, has a sense of humor and can ball out. If I had a top 10 he'd already be on it, but given that he's only been around for half a season, I felt it would've been an unfair inclusion.