PHILADELPHIA: LeBron James’ week in the political world begins Sunday when he will campaign with Hillary Clinton and it ends Thursday with the Cavaliers’ team visit to the White House.
James will join Clinton onstage Sunday afternoon at Cleveland’s Public Auditorium after formally endorsing her last month. He said Saturday he has already voted.
“I know who I’m endorsing and I hope everybody has gotten their fair share of knowledge and understanding of what this is about, how important this is,” James said. “I know who I’m for, who I’m endorsing and everyone has the right to do what they want to do.”
The White House visit on Thursday will come just two days after the election in what has been a contentious campaign season. It is the third trip for James, and all three have been with President Barack Obama. He even campaigned with Obama in 2008 during an event in Cleveland.
“It’s going to be special for the simple fact that not only am I going to be there with my Cleveland teammates, but I’m there when Barack is on his way out,” James said. “He’s been a great role model, especially to African-American kids. What he did was something that you never thought could be possible. Being a black president. For me to be there when he’s on his way out and his last term is ending, I think that’s pretty significant as well.”
For a number of James’ teammates, the trip made possible by winning the NBA championship last June will be their first.
It was also important to Cavs coach Tyronn Lue to get the visit in before Obama leaves office in January.
“Having our first black president was a big thing for me and for my family and I know for a lot of others,” Lue said. “I know having a chance for these guys to see a black president in office is a big thing. It’s a big deal. So that’s one of the reasons why I wanted it to be while he was still in office because you never know if it will ever happen again.”
Getting defensive
The Cavs rank near the middle of the pack in a number of defensive categories and began Saturday ranked seventh in defensive field-goal percentage.
But James isn’t happy with the way the Cavs have defended early in the season, squandering big leads against both the Orlando Magic and Boston Celtics before holding on for victories.
The Cavs allowed 71 points to the Celtics in the second half, including 39 in the fourth quarter.
“Offensively, we’re very good, but defense we’ve had a couple lulls,” James said. “We didn’t do that a lot last year, where we was giving up [39]. We’ve done it the last couple games, so once we figure that out, which we will, then we will continue to take a step forward.”
Dribbles
One of the Cavaliers’ team buses was late arriving at the arena Saturday because the highway was blocked for Vice President Joe Biden’s motorcade. … Kevin Love began the night 14 defensive rebounds shy of 6,000 for his career, and Richard Jefferson was five baskets away from 5,000.
Jason Lloyd can be reached at jlloyd@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Cavs blog at www.ohio.com/cavs. Follow him on Twitter www.twitter.com/JasonLloydABJ.