Cleveland Cavaliers: The Legend of Lester Hudson Continues to Grow

The NBA...where Lester Hudson happens.

The city of Cleveland is stirring with the buzz that has been created by the man playing on his second 10-day contract with the Cavaliers.

"Lesanity! Lestyria!!" tweeted Cavs owner Dan Gilbert during the fourth quarter of the overtime loss against the Nets on Sunday night.

The three-game phenomenon that is Lester Hudson will never reach the national acclaim that Jeremy Lin got a couple months ago. Hudson isn't playing in New York, isn't Asian and didn't go to an Ivy League school.

What's crazy about this story is that Hudson was actually playing in Asia when Linsanity erupted. Hudson went over to play in China during the lockout and credits his time there with much of the improvement in his game. He was counted on to be a scorer in China with opponents game-planning to stop him.

No doubt NBA opponents are going to need to start game-planning for Hudson as well here in the United States.

A journeyman for much of his career since college at Tennessee-Martin, Hudson seems to have finally found a home a Cleveland.

He's still playing on just a 10-day contract, but it would be shocking at this point if he didn't stay on for the rest of the season.

Over the last three games he has been arguably the Cavaliers' best player. He's averaging 24.67 points, 4.67 rebounds, 5.33 assists and two steals per game over that stretch.

His shooting has improved greatly as well, hitting over 40 percent from the field in all three games, including a fantastic 6-of-12 effort from three against New Jersey.

And he's doing much of his damage in the fourth quarter, including 14 points last night against the Bobcats and a game-tying three with less than a second remaining in regulation against the Nets.

That three-pointer is a perfect picture of Hudson's game: fearless. He's not afraid of the moment. He plays like a man with nothing to lose, yet he has the determination to overcome any obstacle.

His theme song should be "Not Afraid" by Eminem (the clean version, obviously...for the kids). While the rest of the team is shrinking from the moment, it's Hudson who has stepped up to take a stand and tell his teammates to take his hand and say, "We'll walk this route together through the storm, whatever weather, cold or warm. Just lettin' you know you're not alone."

I think it's that attitude that really embodies the city of Cleveland and is a reason that fans have rallied around the "Lesanity" phenomenon. While we may love our stars like LeBron James and Kyrie Irving, we tend to get most excited about the underdog.

Hudson wasn't a No. 1 pick (he was taken 58th overall in 2009 by the Celtics). Nothing has ever been given to him, including his current contract, which doesn't even last through the end of the season. Every day he's going to need to continue to prove that he belongs in the NBA.

If the last three games are any indication, he certainly has a place in the league. Hopefully, it will be with Cleveland for the long term.

"Holla if you feel like you've been down the same road."

You can follow Benjamin Flack on Twitter @ClevelandFlack.