BOSTON - LeBron James should remain with the Cleveland Cavaliers and eschew the free-agent market for the good of the league, the community, and most of all, himself, Hall of Famer Dave Cowens said on Monday.
James will soon become a free agent and speculation on where the two-times MVP will land has triggered a spirited guessing-game across the North American sporting landscape.
Cowens, a seven-times All-Star power forward with the Boston Celtics during the 1970s-80s, said he hoped James would try to win the NBA championship with the Cavaliers.
"If I was LeBron I would stay in Cleveland," Cowens told Reuters on the eve of Game Three of the NBA Finals between the Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers. "He can make his money anywhere, even in the smallest market in the NBA.
"He could be in New Orleans, Utah, he's still going to command his international fame and the dollars that go along with that.
"Why he would leave Cleveland, I don't know. He has no problems with the owner and the fans certainly want him."
James will become a free agent next month and fans of several major-market clubs, especially New York, Chicago, and Miami, are hoping the Cleveland-area native jumps ship.
The 25-year-old has been with the Cavaliers for his entire seven-year NBA career and remains searching for his first championship.
Cleveland had the league's best record this season (61-21) but were bounced in the second round of the playoffs by the Celtics. The Cavaliers also made the NBA Finals in 2007 only to be swept by San Antonio.
The team's history of postseason pain has heightened speculation James will be on the move.
Cowens, 61, said the Celtics and the Lakers, the NBA teams with the most titles, have a tradition of keeping players throughout their careers and James should take note.
"A lot of guys take pleasure in the fact they've only played for one team. With the Celtics, you had (Bill) Russell ...(John) Havlicek, the Jones boys (Sam and K.C.) and Larry Bird," said Cowens, who played 10 of his 11 years in Boston.
"With the Lakers, there was Jerry West, Kobe Bryant and others. They played there and just stayed there.
"That's something that's good for the whole league, it's good for the player and it's good for the community."
Cowens, who works in the Detroit Pistons' front-office but will leave at the end of the month, predicted the NBA Finals, which are tied 1-1, will go the full seven games though he would not name a winner.
"Who is going to win the title is anyone's guess," he said. "I have no idea."