Four years after taking his talents down South, it appears LeBron James is taking them back up North.
In an exclusive piece for Sports Illustrated, James announced that he has decided to leave the Miami Heat and sign with his former team, the Cleveland Cavaliers.
“I always believed that I’d return to Cleveland and finish my career there. I just didn’t know when. 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.”
Although details of the deal are not final, it is likely that James will get the max-contract — roughly $21 million a season — he is looking for.
James’ decision ends his successful time in Miami, where he captured two NBA Championships and two NBA MVP awards in four seasons. James was also reportedly considering offers from the Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns.
The decision by James is a shocking one, considering the hostile exit he had from Cleveland in 2010, with his hometown fans burning his jersey as he left. Originally the No. 1 overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft by Cleveland, James played for Cavaliers from 2003-2010, averaging 27 points, seven rebounds and seven assists.
In the article, James said he knows the challenge that is ahead of him.
“I’m not promising a championship. I know how hard that is to deliver. We’re not ready right now. No way. Of course, I want to win next year, but I’m realistic. It will be a long process, much longer than it was in 2010. My patience will get tested. I know that. I’m going into a situation with a young team and a new coach. I will be the old head. But I get a thrill out of bringing a group together and helping them reach a place they didn’t know they could go. I see myself as a mentor now and I’m excited to lead some of these talented young guys.”
His inability to capture a title during that time, however, caused James to be under heavy criticism and was one of the main reasons he left the team.
Now back with the Cavaliers, James will join a nucleus of All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving, No. 1 overall pick Andrew Wiggins, Tristan Thompson and Dion Waiters. Although the team does not have the “Big 3” dynamic to it that James signed up for with the Heat in 2010, it is a team that has young players with potential.
Whether or not James can win a championship with this team, however, will be the big question.
