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Larry Sanders made Cavaliers debut due to ball-boy relayed permission, lack of suit

Jon Leuer, Larry Sanders

Cleveland Cavaliers’ Larry Sanders (9) blocks out Detroit Pistons’ Jon Leuer (30) in the second half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, March 14, 2017, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

AP

The Cavaliers signed Larry Sanders with the intent of him playing the D-League and hopefully being ready for the playoffs.

But thanks to him being ill-prepared for the NBA’s dress code and Cleveland crushing the Pistons, Sanders played in his first NBA game since 2014 last night.

Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com:
He was going to sit on the bench Tuesday and Thursday for Cleveland’s home games in uniform, Lue said, because Sanders didn’t have a suit jacket with him.

Tyronn Lue sent a ball boy into the stands to go find general manager David Griffin and ask him Sanders could play at the end of a blowout.

“I had to get permission,” Lue explained. “I really just wanted to introduce him to the crowd and have him get in, give him a chance to have a standing ovation. I thought it was good for him. When you go through what he’s went through, and you have a chance to get back in the NBA on a pretty good team, I thought it was cool.”

Considering everything Sanders has been through, such a zany debut with the Cavs is only fitting.