The NBA franchise occasionally makes its gym available to traveling college teams free of charge, although it usually requires having a prior relationship to get in. The UD coaches have become familiar with Cavs scouts through the years.
As UD’s Chris Johnson looked around the luxurious locker room, he remarked, “Man, I’ve got to step up my game.”
The Flyers broke their eight-hour bus ride to St. Bonaventure into two legs in preparation of their game today, staying at a downtown Cleveland hotel Thursday night.
The Cavs’ facility is located between Cleveland and Akron, not too far from LeBron James’ home.
It has two NBA-sized courts side by side. It has a massive weight-lifting center with all the latest gizmos. And there’s also an indoor pool with a treadmill submerged in the water and a basketball hoop rising from one end. It’s meant to allow players to exercise without giving their legs a pounding. Or to play Marco Polo.
There’s a nutrition-oriented cafeteria and an underground garage for the players’ Bentleys and Hummers.
UD’s Paul Williams, though, stood back a bit amused at his teammates’ enthusiasm.
“I’ve seen this all before,” Williams said.
The sophomore guard and Jordan Dumars, son of Detroit Pistons’ president Joe Dumars, are good friends and former AAU teammates. And Williams has worked out often at the Pistons’ practice facility.
“Their place is actually nicer than this,” he said.
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