LeBron James finally announced where he will be playing next season, and he has chosen to go back home to Cleveland.
King James revealed his decision to Sports Illustrated and stated that he wants to bring a championship to his home state.
“When I left Cleveland, I was on a mission,” he said. “I was seeking championships, and we won two. But Miami already knew that feeling. Our city hasn’t had that feeling in a long, long, long time. My goal is still to win as many titles as possible, no question. But what’s most important for me is bringing one trophy back to Northeast Ohio.”
The NBA star, who was born in Akron, Ohio, began his career in Cleveland, playing for the team for seven years before going to the Miami Heat. During his time with the Heat, he led the team to the NBA Finals four times and won two championships. At the conclusion of this past season, James decided to opt out of the final two years of his contract with the Heat to become a free agent.
When James left Cleveland back in 2010, the city was outraged. Many Cavs fans burned his jerseys, and Cavs owner Dan Gilbert turned against James, even writing a letter to fans that stated his decision was a “cowardly betrayal” and called him a narcissist. However, James does not hold any ill-will against him.
“To make the move I needed the support of my wife and my mom, who can be very tough,” James explained to Sports Illustrated. “The letter from Dan Gilbert, the booing of the Cleveland fans, the jerseys being burned — seeing all that was hard for them. My emotions were more mixed. It was easy to say, ‘OK, I don’t want to deal with these people ever again.’ But then you think about the other side. What if I were a kid who looked up to an athlete, and that athlete made me want to do better in my own life, and then he left? How would I react? I’ve met with Dan, face-to-face, man-to-man. We’ve talked it out. Everybody makes mistakes. I’ve made mistakes as well. Who am I to hold a grudge?”
Gilbert has already posted a welcoming home tweet to James:
Welcome Home @kingjames. I am excited for the fans and people of Cleveland and Ohio. No fans and people deserve a winner more than them…..
— Dan Gilbert (@cavsdan) July 11, 2014
Heat owner Micky Arison also tweeted his reaction to losing the star player:
I am shocked & disappointed in today’s news. However I will never forget what Lebron brought us for 4 years. Thanks for memories @KingJames
— Micky Arison (@MickyArison) July 11, 2014
“I always believed that I’d return to Cleveland and finish my career there. I just didn’t know when,” James stated. “After the season, free agency wasn’t even a thought. But I have two boys and my wife, Savannah, is pregnant with a girl. I started thinking about what it would be like to raise my family in my hometown. I looked at other teams, but I wasn’t going to leave Miami for anywhere except Cleveland. The more time passed, the more it felt right. This is what makes me happy.”
“I’m ready to accept the challenge,” he said. “I’m coming home.”
