As the World (Re)Turns
by Joe Gabrielecavs.com
NBAE/Getty Images |
The franchise was dying.
On December 15 of that year, the Cavaliers – desperate to make a move – made a move, sending Ron Brewer to Golden State in exchange for the son of a longshoreman from Brooklyn named World B. Free. Actually, his given name was Lloyd Free. But anyone who had seen him play knew that this was no “Lloyd.”
Despite the garish moniker, World was no savior that first season. He averaged 23.9 points for the year and the Cavaliers remained mired in haplessness. But at least now there was a reason to make the trek to Richfield.
World made his bones on the hard-scrabble streets of Brownsville, New York – a tough part of Brooklyn. He had style, flair and the street-ball braggadocio that fans loved. He was a bomber. He was a gunner. And he was the only Cavalier worth paying attention to in those lean years.
The next season, Cleveland’s record improved to 28-54. George and Gordon Gund took over ownership of the club. They hired a young former ABA star named George Karl as Director of Player Acquisition, Joe Tait returned and World B. Free was still chucking. That year, his average dipped to 22.3 points, but the Cavaliers were beginning to put it together.
The following year, 1984-85, Karl took over the head coaching spot. But things looked like they were regressing 21 games into the season, as the Cavaliers stood 2-19. That’s when World and his suddenly somewhat talented supporting cast took over. They finished the season winning 16 of their final 25 games and made the playoffs for the first time since Austin Carr and company had gone there back in the Bicentennial. Down the stretch World led the Cavs in scoring in 14 of the final 16 games.
The Cavaliers gave the World Champion Boston Celtics all they could handle in the playoffs that year, but Larry Bird and company were too much and got past the scrappy Cavs, 3-1. But basketball was once again alive and well in the city of Cleveland.
The following season was World’s last on the North Coast. He led the Cavaliers in scoring in that year and his preceding three – the only Cavalier to do so. It was an ugly breakup, precipitated by money and a changing of the guard. Karl was gone, replaced by Gene Littles. Free left after the season, giving way to Ron Harper and the new breed of Cavaliers – Lenny Wilkens’ Cavaliers.
Simply put, World B. Free revived basketball in the city. He was Cleveland’s LeBron James while the real LeBron James was still in diapers. World could score, but more importantly – at least at the time – he could entertain the crowd. World would curl back and launch his patented 25-footer, bringing the ball back behind his ear and splash the shot. He was the show.
Tonight, behind the efforts of Campy Russell and the Cavaliers’ Legends program, World makes his long-awaited return to Cleveland.
A lot of new-age Cavalier fans won’t remember World. Maybe their memory only goes back to Ricky Davis or Brad Daugherty. Maybe they’ll have no idea who World B. Free is. So for those of you who don’t remember, the answer – as far as I’m concerned – is a simple one.
He is the man who saved basketball in the city of Cleveland.
Welcome back, World.
-- Joe Gabriele
cavs.com
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 November 30, 2005When the Cavaliers take on the Clippers tonight, the team will honor World B. Free in a special halftime ceremony. In 275 career games in Cleveland, Free averaged 23.0 points, 3.9 assists and 2.9 rebounds. He led the Cavs to the playoffs in 1985, where he averaged 26.3 points and 7.8 assists in four playoff games that year. |
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| NOVEMBER 2005 |
Wednesday, November 30th vs. L.A. Clippers 7:00 p.m. Purchase Tickets
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