Kyrie Irving and the Cleveland Cavaliers received a boost of support Thursday from an unlikely fan - and champion, for that matter.
Alcides Escobar, the Kansas City Royals shortstop and 2015 ALCS MVP, offered some winning support to Irving ahead of Game 1 of the NBA Finals when he donned a No. 2 Cavaliers jersey during warmups for Thursday's series opener against the Indians in Cleveland.
Escobar can relate to Irving's underdog Cavaliers, who, like the Royals, are hoping their second straight attempt at a title will end in victory. The Cavaliers lost in six games last year to the Warriors, who once again enter the Finals as the overwhelming favorite. Meanwhile, the surprising wild-card Royals made it to the 2014 World Series where they lost in seven games to the Giants, before rebounding to dismantle the Mets in five last season.