LeBron James announced Friday he would be returning to the Cleveland Cavaliers in an article posted on SI.com.
Four years after he abandoned Cleveland for Miami, NBA superstar LeBron James has decided to return to his hometown team, James announced Friday on Sports Illustrated's website:
"Before anyone ever cared where I would play basketball, I was a kid from Northeast Ohio. It's where I walked. It's where I ran. It's where I cried. It's where I bled. It holds a special place in my heart. People there have seen me grow up. I sometimes feel like I'm their son. Their passion can be overwhelming. But it drives me. I want to give them hope when I can. I want to inspire them when I can. My relationship with Northeast Ohio is bigger than basketball. I didn't realize that four years ago. I do now."
James' decision to sign with the Cavs comes three weeks after he announced that he would opt out of his contract with the Miami Heat, under which he was slated to make $20.5 million this year. The details of James' deal with Cleveland have not been released yet. However, it was reported that James desired the max contract wherever he decided to play next year. Under the NBA collective bargaining agreement, the most that Cleveland can offer James is a four-year contract for $94.8 million ($23.7 million a year).
"I'm not having a press conference or a party. After this, it's time to get to work," James wrote on SI.com.
Speculation that James would rejoin the Cavs increased when Cleveland pulled off a three-team trade on July 10 with the Boston Celtics and Brooklyn Nets to free up salary-cap space that would have allowed them to pay James the maximum amount.
James' decision to return to Cleveland comes four years after his very public departure from the team that came to be known as The Decision. (On July 8, 2010, ESPN broadcast James' announcement that he was leaving Cleveland for Miami during a special one-hour TV special on the network called The Decision.)
James, the Akron, Ohio native, was drafted straight out of high school by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the first overall pick in the 2003 NBA draft. He spent the first seven years of his NBA career in Cleveland where he was the 2003–04 Rookie of the Year, a two-time NBA MVP (2009, 2010), and a six-time NBA All Star, led the team to its first NBA Finals in 2007, and became the team's all-time leading scorer.
LeBron James posted this photo on his Instagram on Friday.
The owners of the Cavs and Heat react to the news on Twitter.
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.....
I am shocked & disappointed in today's news. However I will never forget what Lebron brought us for 4 years. Thanks for memories @KingJames
Minutes after LeBron announced he's coming home to Cleveland, Good for LeBron trended on Twitter.
Good for LeBron man.. I'm happy for him..
Good for LeBron making the right choice and going back to Cleveland. #Respect
Good for LeBron. Just read his letter on http://t.co/17tUdx0OV2. The pride he feels for his home & desire to bring a title is admirable.
Good for Lebron but I just don't get it? Why would the big three break up in the past 4 years they went to the ship everytime and won twice
One person doesn't make a team people. Good for Lebron, but it's all about THE HEAT
Good for Lebron. Can't blame him for going back home.
So many jokes I want to make about the Heat right now, but I'll refrain. I say good for LeBron, and I've never been a fan of his.
Good for LeBron! He will be loved once again and he can finally try to win a Championship in his home state #Cleveland #ComingHome
I give Cleveland a lot of crap...I've made every joke you can make...but this is really cool. Good for Lebron. Good for Cleveland.