‘LeBron winning an NBA title in Cleveland will get that big monkey off his back’

Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James. AP FILE PHOTO

Romeo Travis, the Alaska Aces import and childhood friend of NBA superstar LeBron James, believes that the Cleveland Cavaliers have a great shot of winning the championship this year.

The Cavaliers just clinched their second Finals appearance Wednesday with a four-game sweep of No.1 seed Atlanta Hawks in the Eastern Conference Finals behind James.

Travis, who was a high-school teammate of James in St. Vincent-St. Mary in Akron, also said that James fulfilling his promise of finally bringing a championship in Cleveland will “get that big monkey” off the four-time MVP’s back.

“I’m very happy for them that my friend is playing in the NBA Finals five times in a row,” the 30-year-old Travis said after the Aces beat the Star Hotshots, 92-86. “He’s two and two and hopefully he can make it three and two, 60% so he can kind of get that big monkey off his back.”

“They have a great chance right now and I just wanna see him go out there and do great. He’s one of the best players in the world if not the best player in the world so he’s gonna be just fine.”

Travis said he hasn’t spoken to James since the playoffs have started. As a sign of his full commitment and focus to win a championship, James refrains himself from going online and use his social media accounts during the postseason.

“He cuts his phone off after the season. Just send him a congratulations text, just talk to him in a month.”

The city of Cleveland has never celebrated a sports title in over 50 years or since the Cleveland Browns were crowned NFL champions in 1964. The Cavs have never won a championship.

The Cavaliers are still waiting on the winner of the Golden State and Houston series with the top-seeded Warriors looking to close out the Rockets on Thursday at home in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals.