CHICAGO: LeBron James has made it clear James Jones has a place on his team as long as he wants to keep playing. Jones has now decided when that will be.
Jones told the Beacon Journal he will retire after next season, which will be his 15th in the NBA. His ultimate dream is to ride off after three consecutive championships in Cleveland, he said Friday before the Cavaliers played the Chicago Bulls, although clearly there is a lot of work to do before that happens.
“I know playing 15 years is a number where I can look back and I can be like, ‘I accomplished something,’ ” Jones said. “Fourteen vs. 15 may not be much, but to be able to say I played 15 years, that’s enough for me to hang ’em up.”
Jones, who turned 36 in October, began giving serious thought to retirement last summer after the Cavs’ championship, which was the third of his career.
“After winning it last summer, I felt great. I can continue to play, I love the game a lot. But at some point, you have to know,” he said. “And watching guys who continue to play this game at a high level near the end of their careers, I just wanted to make sure when I did go out I knew when I was going out, so I don’t have to leave anything in the tank. And if I didn’t have enough left in the tank to get there, it’d make it easy for me before that time comes to hang it up.”
Jones is perhaps the most respected veteran in the Cavs’ locker room for the way he carries himself and prepares himself every night despite limited minutes. He has appeared in 10 of the first 17 games, but totaled just 50 minutes entering Friday.
This is his fifth team in his 14 years and he entered Friday’s game at Chicago with 753 career 3-pointers, a 3-point shootout title at All-Star weekend and, most important, three championship rings.
Planning a retirement party that’s 18 months away leaves plenty of time to change his mind, and Jones acknowledges that’s always possible,
“This is what I’m thinking today,” Jones said. “This is my thought right now. This is my plan.”
LeBron is Cub for day
For one night only, LeBron James wore a Chicago No. 23 jersey.
James fulfilled his bet with Dwyane Wade and arrived at the United Center dressed head to toe in Cubs gear after Chicago beat the Indians in the World Series. Wade set the terms of the bet in October, and James quickly agreed. Friday he fulfilled his debt.
Wade met James as he arrived at the arena and the two shared laughs, walking through the tunnels of the arena while a sea of cameras followed them. The jersey had the authentic World Series patch on the arm and “James 23” stitched across the back, invoking memories of another certain Chicago legend who wore No. 23.
James shot a brief video for his media platform Uninterrupted before getting off the bus.
“My Indians gave everything they had,” James said in his video. “And the Cubs came back and showed what true champions is all about. Meanwhile, I’m pinstriped up walking into a national televised game in Chicago because of a bet I lost. You’re all welcome.”
Dribbles
Mike Dunleavy made the trip to Chicago, but remained behind in his hotel room during the game because of his concussion. … J.R. Smith has battled a sore right knee for a few days, but continues to play through it. Coach Tyronn Lue said the team would consider shutting him down if the pain persists. … Lue was named the Eastern Conference Coach of the Month for October/November. James won the players’ award.
Jason Lloyd can be reached at jlloyd@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Cavs blog at www.ohio.com/cavs. Follow him on Twitter www.twitter.com/JasonLloydABJ.