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Hue Jackson: LeBron James means everything to, has uplifted the City of Cleveland

Cleveland Browns coach Hue Jackson believes LeBron James means everything to and has uplifted the City of Cleveland.
Credit: Ken Blaze
Cleveland Cavaliers small forward LeBron James celebrates with fans after hitting a buzzer-beating shot to defeat the Toronto Raptors in Game 3 of the 2018 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals at Quicken Loans Arena.

CLEVELAND -- Cleveland Browns coach Hue Jackson may be in the midst of preparing the team for the upcoming season through Organized Team Activities and the offseason program, but that has not stopped him from recognizing greatness in other sports.

With the Cavaliers in the middle of their fourth consecutive trip to the NBA Eastern Conference Finals, where they evened up the best-of-seven series with the Boston Celtics with a 111-102 Game 4 win in front of the home fans at Quicken Loans Arena Monday night, Cleveland Browns coach Hue Jackson reflected on LeBron James and what he means to the city.

“I think he means everything,” Jackson said of James prior to the start of the 2018 Cleveland Browns Foundation Golf Outing at Westwood Country Club in Rocky River Monday. “I think he sets the bar for everything.”

Admittedly, James does not take much time to revel in his accomplishments, but that has not stopped others from embracing the chance to watch him further cement his legacy among basketball’s all-time greats.

In a winning effort over the New Orleans Pelicans at Quicken Loans Arena in early April, James passed Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan for the most consecutive games in NBA history with double-digit point totals.

LeBron drives left and slams it home for the record!#AllForOne pic.twitter.com/2VIPewMqdr

— NBA (@NBA) March 31, 2018

With a two-handed dunk midway through the first quarter against the Pelicans, James surpassed the 10-point mark for the 867th consecutive game, which moved him ahead of Jordan for the NBA’s all-time mark.

Then, in the Game 4 win over the Celtics, James passed Milwaukee Bucks/Los Angeles Lakers Hall of Fame center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most field goals made in NBA Playoffs history.

“I think our players look to him, too, and just watching what he’s done in his career from a young man to now, he’s done it the right way, and he’s done it with class,” Jackson said. “He’s done it with toughness and grit, and he’s gotten guys to play harder and better.”

Passing Abdul-Jabbar for the most field goals in NBA Playoffs history was just the latest accomplishment in James’ illustrious career.

The first player ever to average a triple-double in the NBA Finals and the all-time leading scorer in NBA Playoffs history, 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 holds multiple franchise marks in postseason play.

“He’s uplifted a city,” Jackson said. “Winning a champion a year, two years ago, whenever it was, was outstanding, and he’s chasing it again now. LeBron is what we all hope to have happen. The wins that he’s had, personal wins, team wins, all of it.”

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