LeBron's mom just purchased CLE season tickets for the upcoming season
All Signs Point To The Possibility Of LeBron James Returning To ClevelandFrom the time he was drafted number one overall in 2003 til July 8th, 2010, there was no player more beloved by Cavalier fans then number 23 LeBron James. In his time with his hometown Cavs, James lead the team to 5 consecutive playoff appearances, 2 of which landed them in the Eastern Conference Finals, and one trip to the NBA Finals.
LeBron personally won 2 MVP Awards and 2 All-Star Game MVPs. The Cleveland Cavaliers also posted back to back 60 win seasons and became accustomed to play in front of capacity crowds on a nightly basis as Cavalier fans faithfully filled the Quicken Loans Arena to watch James and the Cavaliers face off against the NBA’s best.
But just as LeBron helped the Cavaliers back to NBA relevance, then July 8th 2010 happened. On ESPN’s nationally televised special show named “The Decision,” he did the unthinkable, announcing that in the Fall, he was taking his basketball talents to South Beach and join the Miami Heat. As expected, the Cavalier fans were stunned and saddened.
They reacted with disdain and anger towards their now former favorite son. In the blink of an eye, the once popular number 23 Cavaliers jersey was shown in flames. LeBron went from hero to villian, not just in Cleveland, but throughout a good portion of the country as he joined forces in Miami with Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh. LeBron James, despite helping to lead the Miami Heat to the NBA Finals, were they lost in 6 games to the Dallas Mavericks, had his first season in South Beach with his friends viewed as a disappointment.
Many fans and experts wondered if the Big 3 had the ability to make their individual games mesh well enough to turn Miami into perennial championship contenders. Those doubts would soon be erased in season 2 as the Big 3 led Miami to their second NBA Championship and the first for the LeBron James in his career. LeBron’s hard work in the offseason had paid big dividends as he not only won his first ring, but won his third NBA MVP Award, and his first NBA Finals MVP Award.
With that first championship, LeBron finally silenced his critics. Miami went on to repeat as Champions last season, knocking off San Antonio in a very closely contested 7 game series and once again LeBron James won both the NBA MVP and Finals MVP.
Just as Miami’s seemed destined to 3 peat and perhaps more, the Miami Heat seemed to come back to Earth at times this past season. For the first time since James, Wade, and Bosh came together, the Heat looked vulnerable. With Wade’s bad knees and suddenly declining game and Bosh suddenly no longer wanting to post up preferring to launch three pointers, LeBron James found himself in an all too familiar position of having to put the team on his back and carry them.
LeBron James perhaps for the first time in his NBA career seemed a little worn down by the season. Miami, despite being vulnerable, returned to the NBA Finals for the fourth consecutive season and a rematch with those very same San Antonio that Miami squeaked by a year ago.
This time, San Antonio appeared to be the far superior team as they demolished the Heat in 5 games to end Miami’s 3 peat chances and bring about the possibility of this being the end of the Big 3 Era in Miami. Now that the season has concluded, James, Wade, and Bosh all have opt out clauses in their contracts.
It seems likely that Wade will remain in Miami, but the same can not be said about James and Bosh. There have been reports that James may not be happy about playing alongside a declining Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh. This is where LeBron’s former team, the Cleveland Cavaliers come into play.
While the Miami Heat have been at the top of the hill, the Cavaliers have found the going in the Post LeBron Era very rough. However,one positive is the Cavaliers with the losses piling up, have acquired high draft picks, thus drafting and developing what can be a very good young core ready to breakout.
Given the current state of Miami’s aging roster and Cleveland’s young and developing roster, LeBron may have very good motivation to return to his home state and team. LeBron has stated he wants go where he can win the most championships. Given the Cavaliers improved roster and the fact that LeBron has also said that he really wants to raise his children in his hometown of Akron, Ohio and not in South Beach. Reports have stated that his 2 sons are currently enrolled in the Akron Schools and furthermore, Gloria James, LeBron’s mother, has purchased Cavaliers season tickets.
In an article a couple of years ago, LeBron was asked about one day if he would ever return to the Cavaliers and he answered by saying that he wouldn’t mind playing for those fans again. It’s little hints like this that have perhaps been leading towards a Cavaliers and LeBron Reunion. It is my opinion that LeBron loves a good story and would love to repair his image by returning to Cleveland and delivering the long suffering fans their first championship since 1964.
However, despite all of the positive vibes and hints there is one factor to consider in this return happening, that is Miami Heat President Pat Riley. Given Wade’s and Bosh’s decline and Miami’s aging roster, Pat Riley likely will put on the full court press to keep James in a Miami uniform.
If there’s anyone that can pull it off and keep James in Miami with the promise of tweaking the roster to get Miami back to championship form, it’s one Pat Riley. All this being said, LeBron is currently on vacation with his wife and children, possibly discussing with his wife and children which is the best situation for them as a family.
