He’s Coming Home! “The King” – LeBron James has decided to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
After meeting with Heat president Pat Riley and Cavs owner Dan Gilbert within the last week, the most sought after NBA free agent this off-season chose going home over staying in South Beach.
He did so in a letter that was published on SI.com today at 12:24pm:
http://www.si.com/nba/2014/07/11/lebron-james-cleveland-cavaliers … via @SInow
(photo courtesy of David Richard)
Four years ago when he became a free agent, James left Cleveland and took his talents to South Beach, doing it on national TV and ripping the hearts out of Cavs fans. He also upset team owner Dan Gilbert so much that Gilbert responded with a scathing letter to Cavalier fans crushing James for how he handled the decision. So it was very clever that James decided to write a letter of his own to announce his “Decision” this time.
Fast forward four years; forgiveness, along with a younger and better roster and James and Gilbert are reunited again in Cleveland. While they may never have the same relationship they once had, both will be able to tolerate each other for the betterment of the team.
James was asked back in February 2012 if he could ever play for Gilbert again? “Dan is not the coach,” he said. “I can play for any coach.” Well the coach LeBron will be playing for is David Blatt who was hired back on June 20, 2014 by the Cavs.
James spent the first seven years of his career with the Cavs leading them to their only NBA Finals appearance in 2007 where they lost in four games to the San Antonio Spurs.
The last four years of his career were spent in Miami, as James led the Heat to four straight NBA Finals, winning back-to-back titles in 2012-2013. Miami had a chance to “Three-Peat” this year, but fell to the Spurs in five games, leading James to use the opt-out clause in his contract to become an unrestricted free agent and set the stage for this return to Cleveland.
So now LeBron James talents will once again be on display where they started, at “Home”!