Post by: Ozymandias on July 12, 2014, 02:15:27 AM
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CLEVELAND (AP) -- LeBron James is returning home to Ohio, reversing the decision he made four years ago that led to two NBA titles in Miami and crushed Cleveland Cavalier fans.
James told Sports Illustrated for a story published Friday that he was signing with the Cavaliers because his relationship with Northeast Ohio is "bigger than basketball."
"When I left Cleveland, I was on a mission," James said in the SI first-person story. "I was seeking championships, and we won two. 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."
He spent his first seven NBA seasons in Cleveland. In four years with the Heat, he went to the NBA Finals four times, winning two championships. And now heads back to Cleveland to see if he can finally deliver on his promise of winning a crown for that title-starved city.
For Cleveland, it's a new day.
For Miami, it's the end of a championship run.
"I am shocked & disappointed in today's news," Heat managing general partner Micky Arison wrote on Twitter. "However I will never forget what Lebron brought us for 4 years. Thanks for memories."
James said he will always call Miami his second home.
But the lure of his first one was simply too strong to ignore. James is from Akron, Ohio, not far from Cleveland.
"Before anyone ever cared where I would play basketball, I was a kid from Northeast Ohio. It's where I walked," James told SI. "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."
He left Cleveland being called disloyal, a narcissist, a coward and a quitter - and that was all by Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert, who wrote that infamous letter blasting James for choosing Miami.
And now James will play for Gilbert again.
"I am excited for the fans and people of Cleveland and Ohio. No fans and people deserve a winner more than them," Gilbert said on Twitter.
"I'm not having a press conference or a party," James told SI. "After this, it's time to get to work."
And with that, the "Big 3" era in Miami ends much sooner than the Heat expected.
James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade all exercised options in their contracts to become free agents this summer, but the thinking was that they would re-do their deals to give the team financial flexibility in an effort to make upgrades to the roster.
Instead, the game's biggest star is heading back to his roots. Bosh may now leave as well, with widespread reports that the Houston Rockets are preparing to give him a four-year contract offer worth about $88 million. And the Heat face a decidedly uncertain future, a stunning twist for a franchise that has won the last four Eastern Conference titles.
Wade and Bosh all opted out this summer, as did longtime Heat forward Udonis Haslem, and those were considered good signs in a plan to keep James.
Turns out, they were gambles that didn't pay off.
"I went to Miami because of D-Wade and CB," James told SI. "We made sacrifices to keep UD. I loved becoming a big bro to (Mario Chalmers). I believed we could do something magical if we came together. And that's exactly what we did! The hardest thing to leave is what I built with those guys. I've talked to some of them and will talk to others. Nothing will ever change what we accomplished. We are brothers for life.
"I also want to thank Micky Arison and Pat Riley for giving me an amazing four years," James added.
Bosh has made no decisions yet about what he'll do, a person familiar with his thinking told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the All-Star has not announced anything publicly.
James doesn't turn 30 until December, so it's safe to say that he just may be reaching his peak.
And the numbers he's put up in his first 11 NBA seasons already make him a lock to finish among the league's all-time greats.
He's already 27th all-time in scoring with 23,170 points, and could climb into the top 20 next season. Since he entered the league as the No. 1 overall pick by the Cavaliers in 2003, no one has logged more minutes, scored more points or had a better plus-minus ratio than James. His teams have outscored opponents by a staggering 3,743 points with him on the floor over that span; for comparison's sake, Dwight Howard is No. 2 on that list, with a plus-2,312 ratio.
Only Tony Parker and Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs have appeared in more regular-season wins over the last 11 years than James. And he just seems to keep getting better; this past season was his seventh straight year where he posted a career-best in field-goal percentage, shooting just under 57 percent.
"I'm ready to accept the challenge," James wrote. "I'm coming home."
NBA.com
Post by: IORI™ on July 12, 2014, 02:21:48 AM
Post by: fayt on July 12, 2014, 02:23:59 AM
but good to see na magbubuhat uli sya ng team hehehe >:D
Post by: Ozymandias on July 12, 2014, 03:01:50 AM
Sent from House Bolton of the Dreadfort
Post by: razorsharp on July 12, 2014, 04:33:04 AM
sayang. nagre-tool nalang sana ang miami imbis na umalis si lebron. kung pagaaralan mo talaga, wade had to give way. kaso si wade ang cornerstone sa miami e, he cannot leave. miami is his, di naman pwedeng paalisin ni lebron si wade at angkinin nya ng solo ang heat. so no choice si lbj kundi :bye:
Post by: Zurca on July 12, 2014, 09:03:40 AM
Post Merge: July 12, 2014, 09:15:33 AM
Dejavu?
Heat Fans Respond to LeBron James Leaving by Defacing Mural and Burning Jerseys
(http://img.bleacherreport.net/img/images/photos/002/973/970/5eb18c1a041b18caf0ed472a95b3ba85_crop_north.png?w=759&h=506&q=75)
No matter where LeBron James decided to sign this summer, at least one team's fans were going to be upset.
On Friday afternoon, Sports Illustrated's Lee Jenkins broke the news that James was returning home to play with the Cleveland Cavaliers. That decision angered some Miami Heat fans.
Instead of thanking James for leading the Heat to four NBA Finals appearances and two championships, a few Miami fans became destructive.
http://youtu.be/Oi4OTbACwXo (http://youtu.be/Oi4OTbACwXo)
http://youtu.be/NhCMn8gmkYI (http://youtu.be/NhCMn8gmkYI)
From Bleacher Report (http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2126943-heat-fans-respond-to-lebron-james-leaving-by-defacing-mural-and-burning-jerseys)
Post by: jamesbond on July 12, 2014, 09:26:32 AM
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Post by: kylun on July 12, 2014, 09:56:23 AM
pag hindi na naman nia nabigyan ng championship ang cleveland saan naman kaya sya lilipat ulit?
Post by: ThrashMetal on July 12, 2014, 02:32:37 PM
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Post by: carlo1225 on July 12, 2014, 08:49:56 PM
Totoo nga...goodluck nlang sa Lakers... >:D
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Post by: billkulas on July 13, 2014, 09:15:04 PM
Post by: jamesbond on July 13, 2014, 09:17:51 PM
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Post by: razorsharp on July 15, 2014, 12:25:59 PM
After 2 years contract sa Cleveland, san kaya naman team sya pupunta? Malamang sa may malalaking offer na in short term. Hahakot sya ng pera nyan.
most basketball superstars stick with one team lang all their career. mj, kobe, dirk. si lebron na siguro ang magiging pinakasikat na journeyman.
Post by: ThrashMetal on July 15, 2014, 07:59:00 PM
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Post by: jamesbond on July 15, 2014, 08:17:12 PM
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Post by: tonistork on July 18, 2014, 07:19:48 AM
Si Kobe, 7 times pumasok sa finals ang Lakers while playing for them, at nanalo sya 5 rings.
Si Duncan, 6 times ding pumasok ang Spurs nya, at nanalo sya 5.
Si Shaq, 5 times naglaro sa NBA Finals. at 3 maipanalo nya.
At si LBJ, 5 times pumasok sa finals ang mga naging teams nya (Cleveland, 2007 at Miami, 2011-14), at nanalo lang sya ng 2 beses. So percentage wise, mas angat ung naunang apat sa kanya. Mas madami syang talo sa finals kaysa panalo. . he he he
Post by: razorsharp on July 21, 2014, 11:34:55 PM
Si Jordan, 6 times pumasok sa NBA finals team nya, and 6 times din syang nag-champion.
Si Kobe, 7 times pumasok sa finals ang Lakers while playing for them, at nanalo sya 5 rings.
Si Duncan, 6 times ding pumasok ang Spurs nya, at nanalo sya 5.
Si Shaq, 5 times naglaro sa NBA Finals. at 3 maipanalo nya.
At si LBJ, 5 times pumasok sa finals ang mga naging teams nya (Cleveland, 2007 at Miami, 2011-14), at nanalo lang sya ng 2 beses. So percentage wise, mas angat ung naunang apat sa kanya. Mas madami syang talo sa finals kaysa panalo. . he he he
base sa figure mo sa itaas, ang efficiency percentage rating ni jordan sa finals is 100.0%. si kobe is 71.5%. si duncan is 83%. si shaq is 60%. at si lebron is - tadaaaa, 40.0%.
sabi nga ni butihing fernando poe jr., "marami ka pang bigas na kakainin..."
pero teka, diba 4x na naging champ si shaq? tatlo sa lakers (2000-2002) tapos isa sa miami (2006)?
Post by: arthas™ on July 22, 2014, 05:46:07 AM
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Post by: tonistork on July 22, 2014, 09:59:45 AM
base sa figure mo sa itaas, ang efficiency percentage rating ni jordan sa finals is 100.0%. si kobe is 71.5%. si duncan is 83%. si shaq is 60%. at si lebron is - tadaaaa, 40.0%.
sabi nga ni butihing fernando poe jr., "marami ka pang bigas na kakainin..."
pero teka, diba 4x na naging champ si shaq? tatlo sa lakers (2000-2002) tapos isa sa miami (2006)?
yes sir tama ka, 4x si Shaq, sa Detroit lang siya natalo nung 2004. . my fault, nagmadali, he he
Post by: razorsharp on July 23, 2014, 01:28:08 AM