DETROIT — As proven by the fact he paid for busloads of fans to attend games in Detroit, Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert cares about his fans, and vice versa.
And Cavaliers players also appreciate Gilbert just as much as everyone else.
Guard Sam Merrill, for instance, said Gilbert played a role in him signing to a four-year $38 million contract in June 2025 to return to the team because of the way he cares about family.
“The Gilberts are unbelievable,” Merrill said after the Cavs routed the Detroit Pistons in Game 7 in the Eastern Conference semifinals on May 17. “It’s a big reason why I re-signed here this summer. The way that they take care of the whole organization, families. They are always doing stuff for the wives, kids. It’s just a top to bottom first-class organization.”
Center Jarrett Allen also reflected on Gilbert’s support. He mentioned the Cavs owner sent him a message before Game 7 that ultimately gave him more confidence to play at his full potential.
“Dan sent me a message before the game stating how important, how much of an impact that he believes I can have on this game and in this whole series,” Allen said. “It’s motivating, especially with somebody like that with stature has confidence in me.”
Cavs owner Dan Gilbert sends thousands of fans to Detroit during second-round series
Gilbert, a Michigan native, wanted his players to have “home support” on the road, which is why he sent busloads of Cavs season-ticket holders to Detroit at no cost.
Guard Donovan Mitchell said he has never been a part of an organization that sends fans to away games.
“I love this place. Every time I think, like, there’s a max of how much you can love being somewhere, they continue,” he said. “I’ve never been a part of something like that. You heard them when we came out for warmups — it felt like we were at home, in a sense.
“Shout out to every Cavs fan, shout out to our organization. That’s huge, that’s just a big part of what we do.”
For Game 7 the fans were spread around in the lower concourse, and at times they were louder than most of the Pistons fans.
After Detroit fans reacted to the game being a blowout by leaving in droves, Cavs fans gathered by the tunnels and Cavs bench to cheer and chant as their favorite team punched its ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals.
The Cavs will next head to New York to take on the Knicks, with Game 1 set for 8 p.m. Tuesday at Madison Square Garden. It will be their first appearance in the Eastern Conference Finals since 2018, when LeBron James led them there.
This time, they got a big boost from their fans.
“They were very loud, and it was very cool to see,” Merrill said.
Akron Beacon Journal reporter Alisson Toro-Lagos can be reached by email at AToroLagos@usatodayco.com
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cavs players say owner Dan Gilbert has created a family atmosphere