"If y'all can't get the city lit, just say that" - Iman Shumpert blasts the myth about Cleveland’s nightlife

Apart from LeBron James and his hometown roots, Cleveland has never ranked among the top free-agent destinations for NBA players. There are a variety of factors responsible for it, ranging from the small market size, harsh winters and a rather non-existent nightlife.

While The Land does have a strong sports culture and fanbase, it has never been enough to attract the big names. However, this seems to be changing for the Cleveland Cavaliers, especially after Donovan Mitchell emerged as the new face of the franchise after King James.

Not to mention the latest addition, James Harden, who is one of the most prolific scorers in the modern era of the game; his resume speaks for itself. The Beard may not be the high-volume scorer he once was with the Houston Rockets, but he remains a valuable asset for most teams.

Though a little absurd, if some recent reports are anything to go by, the added optimism around Harden’s high-caliber performances is also due to Cleveland’s lack of nightlife. Call it media narratives or a result of his reduced productivity, Harden has a reputation for not leading the most disciplined life off the court.

The former MVP is synonymous with visiting strip clubs and partying until the wee hours of the morning. Addressing the recent study that correlates Harden’s performances with a city’s quality of nightlife,as former Cavaliers guard Iman Shumpeho found the report rather hilarious.

Iman clears nightlife misconception

Refuting the so-called narratives that Cleveland lacks recreational and entertainment outlets, Shumpert decided to share his own experiences. Interestingly, the 6’5″ guard began his journey with a big-market franchise like the New York Knicks before being traded to the Cavs.

Thus, one would assume Shumpert must have had a tough time transitioning from the bright lights of Madison Square Garden to a small city like Cleveland. Surprisingly, that never turned out to be the case for Iman, who seemed to have no complaints about the nightlife situation.

“I know that Cleveland, in theory, ain’t lit. Quote unquote. I don’t have that experience of Cleveland because while we was there, that motherf—ker was lit,” stated the 6’5″ guard, who admitted a lot of it had to do with the star-studded roster at the time.

“Now granted, we had Kyrie B, LeBanon James, we had Lil Kev, we had J Aura, we had me, we had Timofey Mozgov, we had Matthew Dellavedova, Tristan Thompson, we was lit. So if y’all can’t get the city lit, just say that,” added Shumpert, who played a key role on the 2016 championship roster as well.

Post the James era in 2018, the Cavaliers struggled to find their footing back in the East. That said, the losing seasons helped them collect draft capital, which ultimately yielded players such as Darius Garland and Evan Mobley. Adding to it was the acquisition of Spida Mitchell in 2022.

NBA players eyeing Cleveland as a viable option now

The recent addition of Harden to the Cavs was another sign that star players viewed Cleveland as a good NBA franchise. One of the key factors behind it is certainly LeBron, given his history with the city. At the same time, the city has seen several upgrades in recent years, making it a more desirable place to live.

As Shumpert mentioned, those complaining about the non-existent social life and parties needed to take responsibility for it themselves. Nevertheless, the league has seen small-market teams gain traction in recent years, especially given the game’s global reach.

Some of the key examples include Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks, Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets, and, most recently, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder. Big cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Miami remain major attractions nevertheless. Still, the internet and social media have blurred the lines to some degree regarding market size and popularity.

This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Mar 5, 2026, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

“If y’all can’t get the city lit, just say that” – Iman Shumpert blasts the myth about Cleveland’s nightlife

Tags: