Brotherly love
LeBron passes tips on work and play to Gibson
By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sportswriter
Published on Sunday, Feb 17, 2008
NEW ORLEANS: He has succeeded Dru Joyce III as LeBron James' little brother. But Daniel Gibson has learned the role comes with great expectations.
Even in the fashion department.
''I told him, 'I'm always in the camera so if you're going to be around me, you need to get your gear right,' '' James said.
James went so far as to introduce his Cavaliers teammate to a stylist. But it was not the person who has dressed James for such high-profile appearances as the ESPY awards or Saturday Night Live.
''No, he couldn't do that. Not yet. But he will,'' James said. ''As long as he keeps listening to me, he will be able to afford my stylist in a year or two.''
Gibson has hitched his wagon to James' star, so he went along willingly.
''He said I dress bad,'' Gibson said. ''I wear the baggy clothes, loose shirts. Everything you see right now is him.''
Back in high school at St. Vincent-St. Mary, James' closest sidekick was Joyce, the pint-sized point guard who was the son of their coach. Meeting in the fourth grade, James and Joyce won three Division III state high school championships and went 103-5 in their four seasons. Joyce played a huge part in the first of those ti Please see All-Stars, C8
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tles, hitting seven 3-pointers in the final game in Columbus.
Two years ago, when the Cavaliers drafted Gibson in the second round, James found another long-range specialist to embrace.
Gibson said he never had been out of Texas and was grateful when James took him under his wing. Then in last year's playoffs, Gibson started to show Joyce-like tendencies. In Game 6 against the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference Finals, Gibson scored a game-high 31 points, hitting 5 of 5 from 3-point range. In Game 4 of that series, Gibson fired in 21 points.
Now they've become so close that Gibson mimics James ? right down to taking a nap before games.
''I know everything he's doing is for a reason, and it's helping him perform the way he is,'' Gibson said. ''I mock everything he does, before, during and after games.''
Their friendship was on display Friday night during the NBA All-Star Weekend's Rookie Challenge. Playing for the sophomore team, Gibson earned MVP honors. He scored 33 points, three off the game's record of 36 points by Amare Stoudamire in 2004 and matching James' total for the rookies in '04.
James cheered him on from the front row as Gibson hit 11 of 20 3-pointers. After Gibson's first, James slapped his hand as he ran downcourt. As the treys continued to rain, James stood up and raised his arms or strode up and down the sideline.
James said Saturday he felt like he was rooting for Joyce all over again.
''That's who he reminds me of,'' James said. ''Going through high school, my whole career with a shooter, I knew what it was like to get excited for a guy who could shoot the ball as well as Dru did and as well as Boobie is doing now. It reminded me the whole time.''
Gibson competed in the Three-Point Shootout on Saturday night.
James as mentor
Gibson and James might have become close even if Joyce wasn't continuing his basketball career in Germany. James, 23, said he's happy to mentor Gibson, who turns 22 on Feb. 27.
''I'm being a big brother to him,'' James said. ''I tell him things that sometimes he doesn't want to hear, but I know it's right. He listens to me.
'''I could easily just be who I am and never talk to him and go out and play and talk to him then. But it's not about that. It's about paving the way for other young guys, to know it's more than just basketball. This is a short career for us. Fifteen years is long in basketball, but short in life.''
Gibson said the main thing that he has learned from James is preparation for games.
''I'm more of a laid-back, smiling, having fun kind of guy,'' Gibson said. ''He always tells me there's a time for that because that's the type of person he is as well. But when it's game time, it's a little bit different. It's deciding what you're going to do out there on the floor and going out and making it happen.''
Gibson has also copied James' work ethic.
''Getting in the gym two or three hours before practice, leaving the gym an hour or two after practice,'' Gibson said. ''That work ethic and determination is going to take me to the next level, hopefully one day not just playing in this (Rookie Challenge), but playing in the bigger game.''
If they share court time, James isn't the only one doing the teaching.
''He's giving me pointers,'' James said. ''He shoots the ball better than I do.''
Their conversations, though, aren't usually about basketball.
''The majority of things I ask him about are personal,'' Gibson said. ''But it's also finances, marketing, the way I present myself.''
Trade always possible
When Cavaliers General Manager Danny Ferry explores possible trades, Gibson's name often comes up first. But Gibson doesn't really find that flattering.
''No. Because that means if I were traded I would have to leave LeBron,'' Gibson said. ''I don't ever want to do that. Wherever he is, that's where I want to be.
''At the same time, it's a business. So if other teams think if a trade is going to happen you should be involved, that says something about you as a player. That means a couple people out there are taking notes.''
Gibson will be a restricted free agent after this season, so thoughts of his future could creep in now and then. After all, he needs that more-expensive stylist.
Part of what Gibson enjoys about playing with James is the attention he draws from opposing defenses creates opportunities for his teammates. But their bond goes much beyond that.
''Even when basketball is all said and done he'll still be my big brother,'' Gibson said.
Marla Ridenour can be reached at
[email protected]. Read her Browns blog at
http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/browns/.
