CLEVELAND, OHIO: Many expected LeBron James to sign with the Miami Heat or the Cleveland Cavaliers, which is why thousands were stunned by SB Nation’s decision Thursday to post an old State Farm commercial joking about him signing with the Cleveland Browns.
Video of LeBron James’ shocking free agency decision
LeBron James shocked the sports world with his 2014 free agency decision, which is actually just a video of a State Farm commercial from 2009 and we’re really sorry you clicked on the link. Please forgive us.
The ad, released in 2009, featured the then-Cavaliers superstar announcing that he would follow his true love and join the NFL team instead of an NBA team. James was a highly-touted wide receiver and tight end in high school for St. Vincent-St. Mary’s, but the State Farm commercial showed him playing a variety of positions, including defensive line on a field goal block.
James could not be reached for comment about SB Nation’s decision to post the video, nor could the Heat, Browns, or Cavaliers. State Farm denied involvement with the post and requested that we only pay attention to ads featuring Chris Paul and Chris Paul wearing a mustache.
Heartbroken Cavaliers fans were confused.
“That wasn’t funny,” said Daniel Johnson, an Akron native. “I clicked the link thinking it would be a real thing, but instead it was that ad. I guess that ad was kinda funny at the time, but it was dumb clickbaity BS for them to post it today.”
In the end of the commercial, it is revealed James had been napping and was not in fact a dominant football player. It is still unknown where the NBA star plans on signing in 2014, so we’re just going to keep waiting like we have been for the past 11 days or so.
