CLEVELAND -- The Akron RubberDucks are going to recognize one of the city’s favorite sons, LeBron James, with a celebration during their game against the Altoona Curve at Canal Park on Monday, July 23.
As part of the LeBron James Celebration, the RubberDucks will be “the first team to retire” the No. 23, and it will appear on the outfield wall of Canal Park, which is located on “King James Way.”
“LeBron James’ greatness on the basketball court is unquestioned, but his commitment to his hometown of Akron is what really makes him a ‘legend,’” RubberDucks GM Jim Pfander said in a release announcing the celebration.
“We felt there was no better way to honor someone who has had such a positive impact than retiring his number in Canal Park for fans to see for generations.”
Earlier this month, James announced his decision to leave the Cleveland Cavaliers and sign a four-year contract with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Now through July 23, fans can buy $5 tickets at the Canal Park Box Office while wearing a LeBron James t-shirt or jersey. For each “walk-up” ticket purchased, the RubberDucks will donate $1 to The LeBron James Family Foundation.
In addition to the jersey retirement, James will be honored with “The G.O.A.T. (Greatest Of All Time) Burger.”
Available for $12, “The G.O.A.T. Burger” will feature two steak patties with whipped goat cheese, apple cider bacon jam, frizzled onions and blackberry barbecue sauce.
Also, the RubberDucks will sell a special ice cream sundae known as “The Screamer” for $23. “The Screamer” features 21 scoops of ice cream over a brownie base, layered with chocolate syrup, bananas, whip cream, sprinkles and maraschino cherries.
Furthermore, James will be honored by the playing of his career highlights on the video board, as well as the return of “chalk cam” in the stands and a special LeBron James Celebration t-shirt will be sold at the RubberDucks’ team shop.
Despite being 33 years old and in his 15th NBA season, James played in all 82 regular-season games for the first time in his career, averaging 27.5 points, 8.6 rebounds, 9.1 assists and 1.4 steals over 36.9 minutes per contest.
With his 31-point, 12-rebound, 11-assist showing in a 129-123 win over the Brooklyn Nets at Quicken Loans Arena in late February, James made NBA history as he became the first player ever to eclipse the 30,000-point, 8,000-rebound and 8,000-assist plateaus in his career.
Then, with a two-handed dunk midway through the first quarter against the New Orleans Pelicans at Quicken Loans Arena in late March, James surpassed the 10-point mark for the 867th consecutive game, which moved him ahead of Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan for the most in NBA history.
James extended that streak to 873 straight games by the end of the regular season.
James is the Cavaliers' franchise single-season leader in points scored (2,478 in 2005-2006), minutes played (3,388 in 2004-2005), field goals attempted (1,823) and made (875 in 2005-2006), free throws attempted (814) and made (601 in 2005-2006), and scoring average (31.4 points per game in 2005-2006).
In 849 regular-season games with the Cavaliers, James reset franchise records for the most points scored (23,119), scoring average (27.2 points per game), field goals made (8,369) and attempted (17,022), free throws made (5,130) and attempted (6,998), three-pointers attempted (3,713) and made (1,251), assists (6,228), defensive rebounds (5,156), steals (1,376), minutes played (33,130) and minutes per game (39.0).
In addition to his regular-season records, James is the Cavaliers’ postseason leader in points scored, scoring average, assists, field goals made and attempted, free throws made and attempted, three-pointers made and attempted, defensive rebounds, total rebounds, steals and minutes played.
