featured-image

Daily News - November 30, 2015

**NOTE: The news clips and articles listed don't necessarily reflect the views or beliefs of the Cleveland Cavaliers or their Basketball Operations staff, partners, or sponsors.**

LeBron James leads the NBA in clutchness this season
Author: Joe Vardon
Publication: Cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio – This isn't going to shock you, but, the numbers show LeBron James is a pretty good player to have on the court for the team you root for with the game on the line this season.

James' statistics in "clutch" situations, or when games are close late in the fourth quarter, are the best in the NBA by most measures. His running hook with 1.9 seconds left Saturday that night that lifted Cleveland past Brooklyn 90-88 is only the latest example.

According to numbers available at NBA.com on Sunday, James leads the league with 15 points this season in the final minute of games in which the difference between teams on the scoreboard is within three points. He's shooting 5-of-10.

When the Cavs are ahead or behind by four points in the final minute, James still leads the league with 19 points. Stretch that out to the last five minutes of close games, and James has totaled an NBA-high 48 points, averaging 5.3 points in those situations. - CLICK HERE to read full story.

Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant to retire at end of season; final game in Cleveland set for February 10
Author: Chris Fedor
Publication: Cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant will retire at the end of the season.

The 37-year-old Bryant announced the decision in a piece titled, "Dear Basketball" on the Players' Tribune website, the same site that Cleveland Cavaliers' Kevin Love used to reveal his free agency decision this summer.

"This season is all I have left to give," Bryant wrote. "My heart can take the pounding. My mind can handle the grind but my body knows it's time to say goodbye. And that's OK. I'm ready to let you go."

Bryant's farewell tour will make its next road stop in Philadelphia, his hometown, on Tuesday night. - CLICK HERE to read full story.

NBA's top 20 scorers all-time; LeBron James closes in on Alex English at 17th
Author: Rick Exner
Publication: Cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio — LeBron James, who reached the 25,000-point milestone in early November, and then moved ahead of Jerry West and Reggie Miller, is now closing in on Alex English at 17th all-time.

Below are the top 20 scorers, with their statistics for assists and rebounds as well.

James, based on his scoring over the last three seasons, is on target to reach the 30,000-point milestone midway through the 2017-18 season. Just five players have topped 30,000 points.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is the NBA's all-time scoring leader with 38,387 points. - CLICK HERE to read full story.

LeBron’s game-winning shot continues to bury the notion that Cavs’ superstar wilts in the clutch
Author: Jason Lloyd
Publication: Akron Beacon Journal

CLEVELAND: There was a time, before the championship rings and parades, one of the looming questions over LeBron James was whether or not he is a clutch player who could be counted on in big moments in games.

There was a time when James didn’t always perform well in the moment, but those days are getting more and more difficult to remember now. James’ first game-winner this season Saturday night carried the Cavs to a 90-88 victory over the Brooklyn Nets, but James proved long ago he’s bigger than the moment.

James leads the league in scoring when games are in the final minute and the score is within three points — the most important time of games. He is shooting 50 percent in such situations and his 17 points are the most in the league. Oklahoma City guard Russell Westbrook is second with 15 points. - CLICK HERE to read full story.