CLEVELAND, Ohio — “Let ‘Em Know,” the Cavs well-known battle cry and hashtag, got a minor rewrite on Sunday evening.
If you ask star center and well-known cat person Jarrett Allen, “Let ‘Em Know” is out. “Let ‘Em Meow” is in.
Allen showed up to Cleveland’s postgame press conference after the Cavs’ 127-122 win over the Los Angeles Clippers, showing off a new T-shirt.
The plain white tee featured a photo of Allen holding his two pet cats, Sílo and Sasha, and the spin on the Cavs’ popular motto at the bottom.
But the shirt remained a mystery for Allen, who stood up to show it off to media members in attendance, encouraged by teammate Donovan Mitchell.
“That (expletive)’s hard, I’m not gonna lie,” Mitchell quipped while clapping.
The picture of Allen on the shirt had been posted on the Cavs’ social media accounts previously on Oct. 29, when the team wished Allen a “Happy National Cat Day” on their channels.
Allen said he “had no idea” when asked who made the shirt and where it came from. He added that he assumed it was from a fan as it had just been dropped off at his locker by security.
But the mystery has been solved.
The shirt came courtesy of Cavs fan Dan Campbell, 43.
From Marengo, Ohio, Campbell is a cat dad himself to two, Mr. Honey and Lily. Campbell dreamed up the shirt idea for Allen after learning about the big man’s pets, and enlisted a friend to help him make two: One for him, and one for the Cavs center, ahead of attending Sunday’s game.
When Campbell saw Allen run into the locker room after his warmups, he knew he had missed the chance to hand it off himself at the railing near the team tunnel.
So instead, he walked the extra shirt down to security, explained he wanted to give it to Allen as a gift, and they seemingly took care of the rest, he told cleveland.com via direct message.
Shirt laying on a bed
The shirt gifted to Allen by Cavs fan Dan Campbell, 43, of Marengo, Ohio. The shirt features Allen holding his two pet cats, Sílo (left) and Sasha (right).cleveland.com
Allen went on to lead the Cavs with 25 points and 12 rebounds, and received the shirt in the aftermath.
Now, Allen sounds open to incorporating the new shirt into his regular wardrobe.
“I might sleep in this shirt,” Allen said.
Whether catching some ZZZs or throwing down some dunks, Allen is ready to keep “Letting ‘Em Meow” straight into the postseason.