Just four years after LeBron James left his hometown of Cleveland for the sand and beaches of Miami, the NBA All-Star is heading back to where his career began. In an article penned by James himself for Sports Illustrated, The King confirmed that he has made the decision to take his talents back to Cleveland for the 2014-2015 season.
“When I left Cleveland, I was on a mission. I was seeking championships, and we won two,” James wrote on the site. “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.”
James’ essay is raw and honest, which is a rare thing for an athlete. He says he didn’t leave Miami because of any inner turmoil on the team; instead, he just wants to win a ring for the city he grew up in.
“I always believed that I’d return to Cleveland and finish my career there,” James continued. “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.”
James was originally drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003 as the first overall pick. He played in the city from 2003-2010, but never won a championship. His controversial “Decision” to go from Cleveland to Miami resulted in four straight trips to the NBA Finals and two victories.
The split with Cleveland wasn’t harmonious, though, and Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert felt especially jilted by the move. It even led to him to write a scathing letter bashing LeBron on his way out. However, the pull of Cleveland meant more to LeBron than a simple grudge with the owner.
The bigger question now is where the Miami Heat go from here, and whether or not fans will once again see James in the Finals with the young, upstart Cavs.
