NBA superstar Lebron James has officially announced his return to the Cleveland Cavaliers. He issued a lengthy statement to Sports Illustrated explaining his decision. The news that the Cavaliers had emerged as a frontrunner to sign James came as a shock to many, because Cleveland owner Dan Gilbert blasted the superstar so angrily in a letter that was posted on the Cavaliers website shortly after James signed with the Miami Heat in 2010.
But James says this is about home and family and fans–not owners and rosters.
“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.
Remember when I was sitting up there at the Boys & Girls Club in 2010? I was thinking, This is really tough. I could feel it. I was leaving something I had spent a long time creating. If I had to do it all over again, I’d obviously do things differently, but I’d still have left. Miami, for me, has been almost like college for other kids. These past four years helped raise me into who I am. I became a better player and a better man. I learned from a franchise that had been where I wanted to go. I will always think of Miami as my second home. Without the experiences I had there, I wouldn’t be able to do what I’m doing today.”
Lebron also explained why he went to Miami in the first place, why he’s issuing a statement as opposed to holding a press conference and how hard this decision was for him.
