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LeBron's homecoming: more straightforward than you'd think

LeBron in his Miami Heat days. (Image: NBA)
Roar Guru
16th July, 2014
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When LeBron James left the city of Cleveland standing at the altar four years ago he took a lot more away from the city than just his basketball talents.

LeBron was the hometown hero and a beacon to a sports city that had been deprived of an iconic sporting figure for the best part of forty years.

He was beloved, he was cherished and he was the star of a team that he elevated to heights that few, if any, thought were possible.

But he left and he took his talents to South Beach in hope of championships and glory.

He was tormented publicly for two straight years until he was able to win his first championship after choking spectacularly the year before during the 2011 NBA Finals. He was the most talked about athlete in sports, a player so dominant who could never quite figure it out when it came to the crunch.

He doubted himself, he doubted those around him and he in all likelihood doubted if it would ever happen. Eventually though, he got there, and when he did the glory was his and all the question marks that surrounded him for so long had been answered.

In LeBron’s four years in Miami he led the Heat to four straight finals with a 50% winning percentage and collected two finals MVP’s in those championship wins.

He was the best player in the world when he got to Miami and he is still the best player now that he’s left.

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When he left Cleveland, he left for a team that could take him to heights he simply couldn’t reach in Cleveland. As he returns home it may very well be for the same reasons.

Last week Lee Jenkins of Sports Illustrated broke the sports scoop of the year as he revealed that LeBron would be returning home.

He published a first person essay written by LeBron himself so that there would be no confusion as to the King’s true intentions.

The overriding sentiment was that the reason for LeBron’s return extended further than the basketball court. He pointed to his relationship with Northeast Ohio, his roots in the state and the influence he has to youth within the area.

He shut down any and all rumours of animosity between himself and those in the upper echelon of Heat management, and was grateful for his time in Miami and all that the organisation had done for them.

In the coverage of LeBron’s return there has been a lot said as to why he returned, even from the man himself. His relationship with the area, his duty to the people, his friends and family that have been longing for his return are all legitimate factors and have been acknowledged as such by James himself but as we analyse his move which has received attention that would rival some natural disasters, we may be overlooking one of the most basic factors in the move. LeBron wants to win.

In the article he acknowledged that he is no longer the young up-and-comer and that he will assume a mentorship role as he sees out his days in Cleveland, but the desire to win is still there and it still burns.

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LeBron was not happy the way the finals ended and may have realised that the Heat Train may have run its course, as Dwyane Wade is not the same player he was when LeBron joined the Heat four years ago.

Flash has turned into flashes-of-his-former-self as we are treated to glimpses of a player that once led the league in scoring but unfortunately for Wade, his body just does not have what it takes to endure the rigours of an NBA season, particularly its post season.

His knees are shot, he can not attack the rim with the same ferociousness he once did, his shots and floaters lack lift and he can not take over games on a consistent level like he once could.

LeBron is a super athlete but even he was tested to his limits as he was forced to carry an extraordinary load en route to a 4th consecutive NBA finals.

Miami was an old team, and only getting older.

They weren’t only beaten by the Spurs, they were pummeled and thoroughly outclassed and the writing was on the wall in capital letters.

Miami slugged their way to the 2014 NBA finals as they struggled to finish off a Pacers and Wizards team that perhaps their 2012 team would have blitzed.

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Bosh is past his prime, Chalmers came up small when needed most, Wade could barely stay on the court and when he did, he did not play to the level expected.

Miami had no continuity and ended up relying on Rashard Lewis in crunch time, a 34 year old stretch power forward who had barely featured all year up until that point.

It was too much for LeBron in that series and if they stayed with the same team it would in all likelihood end up with the same result. They had a good run, but when it’s over its over.

Not only is Cleveland his home but it’s a team that has one of the best young cores in the NBA. The Cavs have three of the last four Number One picks in the NBA.

Kyrie Irving is already a bona fide star in this league, Andrew Wiggins has been touted as the best prospects since LeBron, and the jury is still out on Anthony Bennett who has been quietly making strides in recovering from a disastrous rookie season.

At the end of the day no one player has ever led a team to a championship without another star. Every Batman needs their Robin.

Jordan had Pippen, Bird had McHale and Parish, Magic had Kareem and Worthy, Shaq had Kobe and the list goes on and on and on.

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Ultimately LeBron was faced with a choice: do I see out my days with my aging buddies in Wade and Bosh or do I roll the dice with two players who could end up as future faces of this league and do some of the heavy lifting when needed?

LeBron gambled on returning to Cleveland, and hopefully he receives a kind roll of the dice.

At the end of the day LeBron didn’t just make the best move for himself and his family, he made the best move for his career too.

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