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Browns' Myles Garrett wanted to 'plant deep roots' in Cleveland by joining Cavs ownership
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- Browns' Myles Garrett wanted to 'plant deep roots' in Cleveland by joining Cavs ownership
BEREA — Myles Garret t aspired to become part of Cavaliers ownershi p not only because the Browns defensive en d has loved basketball since his childhood, but also because Cleveland has become a second home .
Garrett recently finalized an agreement to purchase a minority stake in the Cavs and serve as the franchise's official brand ambassador.
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"I always loved ball," Garrett said Friday as the Browns (4-2) geared up for Sunday's road game against the Seattle Seahawks (4-2). "It's still one of the things I will always enjoy. It's one of the ways I connect with my family, especially the men in my family, and I wanted to plant deep roots in the city and make this a community that I'm always a part of.
"I'm not going to sell my house and pack up and leave [when I retire from football]. I definitely plan to be here for a long time. I know I'll start a family here. I'm not just going to rip and run once things are over and I hang up the cleats. I plan to be here supporting the Cavs, supporting the Browns for a mighty long time."
Former NBA center Anderson Varejao drives to the basket against Cleveland Browns star Myles Garrett during the Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game.
A passionate Cavs supporter who attends nearly home game, Browns cornerback Greg Newsome II is thrilled to have a teammate with a piece of ownership.
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"To be an athlete still currently playing at a high level, still very young and still young in his NFL career, it's amazing for him to be an owner already," Newsome said.
Garrett , 27, said after the Cavs announced the news of his ownership Wednesday that Browns teammates "swarmed" him for tickets to games at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett cheers in the second half during Game 1 in the first round of the NBA basketball playoffs between the New York Knicks and the Cleveland Cavaliers on April 15 in Cleveland.
A four-time Pro Bowl and two-time first-team All-Pro selection, Garrett declined to disclose details of his deal with the Cavs when asked by the Beacon Journal.
"There is a percentage [I bought]. I can't say," Garrett said.
Regardless of the specifics, Garrett's teammates are proud of him.
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"It's always good to build life after the game and set yourself and your family up for success in the future and using this as a tool to do that," linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. said. "He's done that, obviously, being a pillar in the community, in the city and then obviously becoming a minority owner."
"That's really awesome," linebacker Sione Takitaki said. "When I see stuff like that, that's what I really like — taking advantage of his career and opening up other avenues. I feel like a lot more guys should start looking into stuff like that."
Browns defensive end Myles Garrett fires up the crowd during the second half of Game 2 between the Cavaliers and Knicks in a first-round playoff series on April 18 in Cleveland.
The 2017 No. 1 overall draft pick by the Browns, Garrett is a native of Arlington, Texas, but he explained he has long been a fan of NBA superstar and Akron native LeBron James . Garrett said his allegiance to the Cavs began in 2016 when James led them to a championship.
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"I really fell in love with that team and how much they came together and won it all, and when [James] left [to join the Los Angeles Lakers ], I still had a love for that team and what they were doing with that bond they created," said Garrett , who lives in Medina County during Browns season.
Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett plays basketball against linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (28) after drills at the team's practice facility June 7 in Berea.
Garrett has had dreams of NBA ownership for a while, but he assumed it wouldn't happen until he retired from the NFL.
"It took time, but the patience definitely paid off," he said. "I have a great relationship with [owner] Dan [Gilbert], his family and other guys there with the Cavs. It's part of building a relationship, a genuine connection, and I think we both understood how much I really loved it and how much these two teams [matter to] the city and how we could really branch them together."
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The reigning AFC Defensive Player of the Week , Garrett loves to play basketball. Last year, he warmed up with the Cavs Summer League team before a game and played in the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game in Cleveland. He joked his agreement with the Cavs may include an opportunity to play on a 10-day contract at some point.
Cleveland Browns star Myles Garrett goes for a layup during the Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game.
How good is Garrett at basketball? Well, it's in his bloodlines. His brother, Sean Williams, is a former NBA player whom the New Jersey Nets drafted in the first round (No. 17 overall) in 2007 out of Boston College.
"He texted me [about the Cavs ownership news]. He said, 'That's a grown man move,'" Garrett said.
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Team Walton player Machine Gun Kelly defends Team Nique player Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns during the first half of the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game at the Wolstein Center on Feb. 18, 2022, in Cleveland.
Of course, Garrett isn't the only NBA owner who's a regular at Browns headquarters in Berea. In April, Browns owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam officially joined Wes Edens and Jamie Dinan as co-owners of the Milwaukee Bucks .
Garrett said he's eager for matchups between the Bucks and Cavs and conversations with Jimmy Haslam about their NBA ownership.
"I'm sure I'll start digging at him here soon, or he'll get to me first," Garrett said.
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Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich .
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Myles Garrett strengthens Cleveland 'roots' as Cavs owner
