An Ode To RJ

OAKLAND, CA – JUNE 19: Richard Jefferson #24 of the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrates in the locker room after defeating the Golden State Warriors 93-89 in Game 7 to win the 2016 NBA Finals at ORACLE Arena on June 19, 2016 in Oakland, California.

Richard Jefferson was never supposed to be a Cleveland Cavalier. In the summer of 2015, Jefferson had agreed to re-sign with the Dallas Mavericks after the team had agreed to contracts with Wesley Matthews and DeAndre Jordan. Jefferson was coming off a solid season as a backup forward for the Mavs, shooting over 40% from three for the second straight year, and the Mavericks were thinking big with their new additions.

Of course, the NBA is nothing if not unpredictable, Jordan reneged on his promise to the Mavericks and returned to the Los Angeles Clippers after being trapped in his own home  by Doc Rivers and several of his teammates. With the Mavs no longer looking like title contenders, Jefferson approached Mark Cuban to see if he could look for a team that was. To his credit, Cuban honored Jefferson’s request, and he soon became the newest member of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

At first, many fans were ambivalent towards the Jefferson signing, likely due to the disappointing performances of fellow veterans Mike Miller, Shawn Marion, and Kendrick Perkins the previous season. Slowly but surely, RJ began to win fans over with his solid outside shooting and smart play on both ends of the floor. The fact that he was an interesting interview didn’t hurt either.

Jefferson’s popularity took off when the Cavaliers traded for his close friend, Channing Frye. Together, Jefferson and Frye brought a terrific combination of fun and professionalism to a locker room that too often lacked both. Then, Jefferson discovered Snapchat, and our lives were changed forever.

None of this is to say that Jefferson was just the class clown. When Kevin Love was lost for Game Three of the 2016 NBA Finals, Jefferson stepped in as a starter and finished with nine points and eight rebounds as the Cavaliers won their first game of the series. While Jefferson averaged just 5.7 points and 5.3 rebounds for the series, he also shot 51.6% from the floor, and his defense allowed the Cavaliers to play with the Warriors when both teams went small. Fans will never forget The Block, The Shot, and The Stop, but the play of Richard Jefferson was a huge reason why the Cavaliers were able to end Cleveland’s 52-year title drought. An emotional Jefferson announced his retirement after the Cavaliers won Game Seven, but quickly changed his mind, a move that was cheered by Cavs fans everywhere.

That summer, Jefferson enjoyed the fruits of becoming an NBA Champion after a fifteen year career. He toured the sports talk show circuit, let fans into his life via Snapchat, and as the next season began, he teamed with Frye and sideline reporter Allie Clifton to start one of the best NBA podcasts around.

The Road Trippin’ Podcast has rightly recieved rave reviews for its behind-the-scenes look at the NBA. As respected veterans themselves, Frye and Jefferson were able to get guests like LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and Tim Duncan to let their guards down a bit during extended interviews. Jefferson had begun building a media career that will serve him well in his retirement. Cavalier fans also watched Jefferson’s second career continue to grow through his postgame television work with Cavaliers play-by-play man Fred McLeod known as Was It Something I Said.

Despite his new interests, Jefferson remained an integral part of the Cavaliers’ rotation. He was still the team’s most effective bench player against the Golden State Warriors in both the regular season and playoffs, and provided some terrific Christmas memories for Cavalier fans.

Jefferson’s charisma and ability to rise to the occasion in big moments are a special combination that not many players can say they have. That character was never more evident than during the final game of this preseason against the Orlando Magic, when he was out of his chair cheering for his teammates despite knowing that he was going to be traded to the Atlanta Hawks for no reason other than the Cavs had signed too many players. Soon, the Hawks will waive him, and Jefferson’s journey through the NBA will continue, likely with a playoff team that needs a veteran wing.

Despite what Kyrie Irving might tell you, Cleveland is a wonderful sports city. If a Cleveland athlete plays hard and seems to embrace the city, the fans here will love them forever, particularly if their team is successful. When a beloved player and his team split, it’s upsetting for the fans, and that’s okay. Despite what some would tell you, that kind of passion is what makes sports great. While he was only here for two seasons, Richard Jefferson has left and indelible mark on the history of Cleveland sports. So long, RJ. Thanks for the memories. It took the unexpected to bring you here, but you’ll always be a Cavalier to us.