TORONTO: The Cavaliers’ monster road trip will be a little less grueling for Samardo Samuels, who did not go to Canada with the team because he lost his passport. He will rejoin the team today in Minneapolis.
Samuels wrote on his Twitter account in early December that he had lost both his passport and wallet. The Cavs remained hopeful he could get the situation rectified before Wednesday’s game against the Raptors in Toronto, but because he holds a Jamaican passport and visa issues are involved, it became too complicated to complete in time.
“I’m going to chalk it up to youth and inexperience,” Cavs coach Byron Scott said. “Hopefully, he learned his lesson and it never happens again.”
It was a tough 24 hours for Samuels, who was benched during Tuesday’s win over the Charlotte Bobcats because Scott said he wasn’t focused. He conceded Wednesday the lingering passport/visa issue might have distracted Samuels.
Scott knew all along it was a possibility Samuels wouldn’t make the trip, but was hopeful the situation would be resolved in time. The Cavs don’t return to Toronto until early April and the team hopes it will be settled by then.
Star is born?
Rookie Kyrie Irving joined Antawn Jamison and Anderson Varejao as the only Cavs on the 120-player ballot for the All-Star Game. Irving and Minnesota Timberwolves point guard Ricky Rubio were the only rookies named, but Irving wasn’t fazed by the nomination.
“It’s a great honor, but it’s still the beginning of the season,” Irving said. “There’s still a long way to go before the All-Star Game.”
Irving would probably be thrilled if the rest of the country could just get his name right. The Toronto Sun referred to him in Wednesday’s editions as Kyrie Evans. That comes after the Detroit Pistons, in their pregame notes to his pro debut in the preseason, referred to him as Kyle Irving.
Fans can log onto www.nba.com for the assorted ways to vote for All-Stars.
Popular guy
Cavs rookie Tristan Thompson, who grew up just outside Toronto, was easily the most popular player in Air Canada Centre on Wednesday.
Thompson had 26 tickets to the game, but more than 200 friends and family in attendance. He was also mobbed by the Toronto media before the game because he is the highest Canadian-born player to be drafted in the NBA (No. 4 overall).
Thompson was a Raptors fan dating back to the team’s inaugural season in 1995-96. He grew up admiring guys like Damon Stoudamire and Vince Carter from the upper deck of the SkyDome before the new basketball arena was built.
Thompson and San Antonio Spurs rookie Cory Joseph are considered the faces of the new wave of basketball talent coming out of Canada. Thompson and Joseph, incidentally, were college teammates at Texas.
“We greatly accept that responsibility and we feel it’s only right that we do,” Thompson said. “Myself and Cory have done a lot for Canadian basketball. We’ve opened doors for the young guys who have great talent.”
Eyenga demoted
Christian Eyenga was sent to the Cavs’ Development League team in Canton so he could get some playing time. Eyenga’s brief appearance in Tuesday’s win over the Charlotte Bobcats was his first of the season.
With this road trip encompassing the next two weeks and only a couple of practice days available, Scott wanted him to start playing again. There is plenty for Eyenga to work on, particularly with his defense and work ethic.
“He has to learn how to be a professional in this league and work hard every single day,” Scott said. “That’s the reason Alonzo [Gee] has taken such a giant leap. He just comes every night and brings it. Christian has to get to that point.”
Jason Lloyd can be reached at jlloyd@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/JasonLloydABJ. Follow ABJ sports on Facebook at www.facebook.com/sports.abj.
