Sport360° view: Cleveland move shows how LeBron has matured off as well as on the court

Jay Asser 12:57 12/07/2014
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  • "The four years with the Heat didn’t just produce two titles, they helped him grow."

    LeBron James is going back to Cleveland and the tensionfilled bubble that ballooned for over two weeks has popped.

    His decision has finally been revealed and it couldn’t reflect more on how James has changed since his last announcement in 2010.

    When the news dropped of LeBron opting out of his contract with Miami, there was real excitement that the best player in the world would be switching teams again.

    That excitement turned into obsession as we tried to find any clues we possibly could on his destination. Reporters staked out his house and followed his every move.

    The plane of Cavs owner Dan Gilbert was tracked. Designers analysed James’ website colour schemes. We were all hostages.

    But not to LeBron. To ourselves. We were trying to fulfill our own hunger of wanting to know just exactly where the four-time MVP would play.

    Constantly refreshing Twitter was essential, but also self-damaging as it increased our impatience. Why couldn’t he just make up his mind?

    Suddenly, a televised decision seemed better than just flat out waiting for someone to take his time making one of the biggest decisions of his life.

    It was finally told in the most understated of ways. LeBron provided an exclusive self-essay to Sports Illustrated outlining why he chose a return to Cleveland, a far cry from ‘The Decision’.

    The four years James spent with the Heat didn’t just produce two championships, they helped him grow. He left Cleveland because he wanted to win titles. He’s coming back now because it’s his home and where he wants to raise his family. 

    Are the Cavaliers his best chance to keep adding championships to his outstanding resume? Not at the moment and James said as much.

    But it’s not about raising multiple banners anymore. It’s about bringing home one single title to a city that hasn’t had in any sport since 1964.

    LeBron is already a lock for the Hall of Fame and one of the best players of all-time, even if he retired tomorrow. But he would reach legendary status, on par with Michael Jordan and Bill Russell, just by being the hero that led Cleveland to a championship.

    That’s why his decision is a bold one. You thought he faced pressure trying to win his first championship? This will be unlike any burden an athlete has had to carry.

    LeBron 2010 would have been crushed by that pressure. LeBron of 2014 welcomes it.

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