CLEVELAND, Ohio -- After not dressing in his first official game with the Cleveland Cavaliers Tuesday night, Anderson Varejao ditched his hoodie and tossed on that familiar wine and gold No. 17 jersey.
For the first 41-plus minutes of Wednesday night’s home game versus the Portland Trail Blazers -- ironically the place where Varejao was traded in a gut-wrenching move during 2015-16 season, seemingly ending his 12-year run in Cleveland for good -- Varejao watched from the bench while supporting his teammates and participating in huddles. Just enjoying the moment.
Then, a few minutes into the fourth quarter, as the Cavs were playing the second game of a back-to-back and the Blazers were adding to their massive lead, coach J.B. Bickerstaff knew it would soon be time to empty the bench. He asked Varejao if he was ready -- for his first NBA action since 2017, the rush he had been dreaming about, the reason why he worked out in his garage and basement during the pandemic, the primary purpose of this celebratory 10-day contract.
“I said, let’s do it, let’s go,’” Varejao recalled.
Up popped Varejao. The fans followed suit. As he strolled toward the scorer’s table, the anticipation built. Then Jarrett Allen’s alley-oop attempt clanged off the rim and sailed out of bounds. The whistle blew. It was time. At the 6:37 mark of the fourth quarter, Varejao checked in to a standing ovation while chants of “An-dy, An-dy, An-dy” echoed through Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. One Loudville crazy wearing an old-school Varejao jersey started bowing. Boisterous fans yelled at Varejao’s teammates to pass him the ball.
The fitting start to his farewell tour.
“I know it has been a while but felt good to be out there,” Varejao said. “And I felt loved by the fans and everyone that was at the arena tonight. When I checked in, it felt like ‘wow, I never left.’ Just with the fans cheering and being happy to see me. Because I was very excited and happy to see them. They gave the support I needed tonight. I love Cleveland, I love the fans.”
The night started with 4,148 masked-up and socially-distanced fans inside the arena. Some left early, not wanting to suffer through another blowout in the final weeks of this season’s collapse. But the two most important were still there: Stacy and Serenee, Varejao’s wife and one-year-old daughter.
Overcome with joy, Varejao pulled out his phone following the game and showed off a video of Serenee waving her arms to the music playing in the arena.
“I don’t know if she knows what’s going on,” Varejao said. “This is the first time I played in front of my daughter. I’ll never forget this day because of all that. It was special. It’s something that I’m gonna take with me for the rest of my life.”
With his unmistakable frizzy hair only contained by a wine-colored headband, “Wild Thing” was all over the court, pulling down six rebounds, dishing out an assist and blocking a shot. He even plowed into teammate Brodric Thomas and crumbled to the hardwood while fighting for a rebound. The only thing missing was a signature charge.
“I love the way he plays the game of basketball,” Bickerstaff said. “I love watching him play. I took joy in that as well as the ovation that he got because it was well deserved.”
“The ‘Wild Thing,’ man. It’s crazy,” said Dean Wade, only 24, not knowing much before about Varejao other than that nickname. “When I saw him check in I was just so happy for him. Probably meant so much to him. I didn’t ask him anything or anything like that. Came in, just feel the energy of the crowd and everyone was going crazy. Think it was a very special moment.”
Ignore the scoreboard (Blazers 141, Cavs 105). Forget the four missed shots, including a brick after Bickerstaff called the very first play for Varejao. It doesn’t matter he only scored one point. Wednesday is exactly what Varejao hoped for when he answered that call from general manager Koby Altman last week and agreed to return. It’s exactly what the Cavs wanted when arranging this plan.
“When it came out that we were going to sign him, everyone was just talking about how much he meant to the city and the way he competed and battled every game,” Wade said. “It’s awesome to be around him. He’s an unbelievable guy too. When he walked in and I met him I was like, ‘That’s crazy, that’s really Anderson Varejao, that’s wild.’”
If he’s a positive influence on the young players, terrific. They could use that guidance, especially with team leaders being in and out of the lineup. If they can gain anything from Varejao’s experience, that would be great. He’s got plenty to offer in that department. If his infectious smile and positive attitude bring a little joy to a defeated team that is limping to the finish line and may not win another game at the end of this strange, exhausting season, what’s the harm in that? If players see him diving on the floor, giving his all, at 38 while the Cavs are getting pulverized, maybe some of that rubs off on them.
Call it a PR stunt. Label him a distraction. But don’t ignore those emotions. Wednesday was more than five years in the making -- and what a memorable scene.
There was Portland coach Terry Stotts, who talked about Varejao’s lasting mark before tipoff, shaking the beloved veteran’s hand when he checked in. Varejao also received hugs after the game from Carmelo Anthony, Damian Lillard and Canton native CJ McCollum, who grew up watching Varejao.
“I appreciate the love and support from the coaching staff and from the other teams too,” Varejao said. “That means a lot. It’s just unbelievable to have this respect and to see other teams out there and see all the players coming to talk to me and like ‘Hey, man, welcome back. We missed you.’ It doesn’t happen every day. So I’m going to enjoy this moment because I know it’s very special.”
Let’s not forget Larry Nance Jr. wearing an old Andy wig from one of the fan giveaways years ago.
“That was awesome,” Varejao said with a bright smile. “I mean, I remember Larry Nance coming into the locker room with his dad, he was just a little kid. And to see him out there wearing the wig and showing me the love and support was awesome.”
Varejao never got the proper Cleveland sendoff. Before Wednesday, his last game with the Cavs was Feb. 10, 2016 at home, though nobody knew it. About a week later, he was gone, sent away in a three-team deal for Channing Frye. No chance to say goodbye.
The contract Varejao signed on Tuesday is a way to change all of that, to thank an adored member of the organization for 12 years, growing from an unknown second-round pick who didn’t speak much English into the embodiment of Cleveland. It’s about making sure his final NBA memory isn’t from that worthless, forgettable game he played in a Golden State Warriors jersey at the beginning of February more than four years ago.
It’s about more than basketball.
“The love and support I got from everyone, not not just the organization, but the fans, the workers, everyone that works at the arena and everything, it’s amazing,” Varejao said. “It feels special. Cleveland’s home for me. I won’t forget this day.”
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The Link LonkMay 05, 2021 at 02:00PM
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Anderson Varejao savors night he won’t ever forget, opportunity to play in front of daughter for first time - cleveland.com
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