Daniel “Booby” Gibson was part of two important generations of the Cleveland Cavaliers after being selected in 42nd position (12th place in the second round) of the 2006 draft. In his first season in the NBA, the Cavs won, under the leadership of LeBron James, the East title, being swept by the San Antonio Spurs in the Final.
The Northeast Ohio franchise remained competitive for the following seasons in the Eastern Conference, but without returning to the Final: falling in the semifinals, in 2008 and 2010, against the Boston Celtics; and vice for the Orlando Magic, in 2009.
More offseason Between the 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons, he left the Cavs for the Miami Heat, resulting in a period in which the Cavs became a lottery team, selecting Kyrie Irving first in the 2011 draft.
He left the Ohio franchise after the 2012-13 season and ended up retiring at the age of 26, no longer being on the team that would win the lottery two more times, choosing Anthony Bennett, in 2013, and Andrew Wiggins, in 2014 — the process would result in the 2016 title, the biggest turnaround in NBA history.
In an interview with CNN Brazil Before the team’s victory over the Sacramento Kings, on Friday last week (23), at Legends Corner, in Cleveland, Gibson evaluated what the Ohio franchise represents for him.
“The Cavaliers were everything to me, both in my career and in my family. When I arrived in Cleveland, I was 19 years old, trying to figure out what to do with my life, and this organization took me in, helped me mature, and showed me how to do things the right way. And my life has changed since I joined this organization, for the better,” he said, before giving his opinion on the importance of events in which the Cavs bring together former names of the franchise.
“I think it’s great that we can have our brothers that we battled with, that we wrestled with, that we made baskets with, that we can still have those stories and share those memories, and also that we can still connect with the fans and the people and show our gratitude for the love that they gave us,” he concluded.
*The journalist travels at the invitation of NBA Brazil
