CLEVELAND -- As has been well-documented, LeBron James never went to college. The Cleveland Cavaliers superstar, however, has become plenty familiar with the recruitment process over the course of his NBA career.
And with his 2018 free agency approaching, efforts to secure James' services have once again started up. The latest installment came on Thursday, when Akron realtor Alison Barenek erected a billboard on I-77 imploring James to remain in Cleveland when he can opt out of his current Cavs contract this summer.
On Friday, James -- who has seen similar recruitment tactics attempted by Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Lakers fans this season -- addressed the new signage in his hometown.
"I haven't seen it," the 4-time MVP said of the billboard, which is located at the White Pond exit on I-77. "Like I've said, it's very flattering and it's very humbling. I love my hometown, so I already know there's no place like Akron, that's for sure."
Barenek's billboard attempts to play on that emotion, likening James' Nike sneaker to Dorothy's ruby slipper in The Wizard of Oz, along with the message "There's no place like home."
Only James, who has declined to discuss his impending free agency throughout this season on multiple occasions, said that he's not yet ready to address what such billboard might mean to him and his potential decision.
"I don't know if this is even the right time to talk about that," he said. "I will attack that after the season."
What James -- who is currently playing some of the best basketball of his 15-year NBA career -- was willing to talk about on Friday was his belief that none of the noise surrounding his upcoming summer would serve as a distraction for himself or the Cavs.
"I mean I see it. But I know what's important. I've always been able to keep the main thing the main thing," James said. "I see pretty much everything. I haven't seen that billboard just yet, but I probably will. But I see and I hear pretty much everything. But I know what's important, I know what keeps me focused at what the job is at hand. That's just how I've always been my whole life.
"I heard talks of me being able to go straight to the NBA and be the No. 1 pick after my junior year of high school. I heard that, but it didn't affect me. There was talks of me leaving St. Vincent-St. Mary and going to Oak Hill [Academy], you know? There could have been a billboard back then."
What James is focused on is the Cavs' Friday night matchup with the Phoenix Suns, in which Cleveland will attempt to pick up its third straight win. After that, he'll shift his attention toward the final three weeks of the regular season and eventually the NBA Playoffs -- although he might also notice some new signage along the way.
