LeBron James chooses Miami Heat
Having been giving his decision the big build up, LeBron James delivered the big letdown for his hometown fans.
James' announcement of his free agency move had brought an unprecedented level of speculation amid reports that it was a two-horse race between his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers and the New York Knicks.
However, in an hour-long broadcast on ESPN, catchily entitled The Decision, and after one of the most hyped free-agency periods anyone can remember, James revealed he had agreed to join the Heat in a switch which brings him together with Olympic team-mates Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh.
James, the two-time NBA most valuable player, said: “I can't say it was always in my plans, because I never thought it was possible,” James said. “But the things that the Miami Heat franchise have done, to free up cap space and be able to put themselves in a position this summer to have all three of us, it was hard to turn down. Those are two great players, two of the greatest players that we have in this game today.”
He also said: “I wanted to do what was best for LeBron James. At the end of the day, I feel awful. I feel even worse that I wasn't able to bring an NBA championship to that city,” he said of his time with the Cavaliers.
“I never wanted to leave Cleveland. My heart will always be around that area. But I also felt like this is the greatest challenge for me, to move on.”
Dan Gilbert, the majority shareholder of the Cavaliers, was suitably moved, but only to anger, both at the decision by James to leave his team but also that the whole episode was played out on national television. He also delivered a rallying cry to the Cleveland faithful that the Cavaliers would deliver an NBA championship before James won it with the Heat.
In an open letter, Gilbert said: “As you now know, our former hero, who grew up in the very region that he deserted this evening, is no longer a Cleveland Cavalier.
“This was announced with a several day, narcissistic, self-promotional build-up culminating with a national TV special of his ‘decision’ unlike anything ever ‘witnessed’ in the history of sports and probably the history of entertainment. Clearly, this is bitterly disappointing to all of us.”
Cavaliers fans expressed their feelings by throwing rocks at a large billboard of James in the city while others burned shirts with James' name on the back.
Doubtless James can expect a warm welcome in Miami although he has yet to conclude a contract with the Heat."Well, the numbers are not finalized. I think my agent, Leon Rose, will take care of that," James said.
"But all three of us are ultimately going to take less money because we wanted to all play alongside each other, and we feel like we can be great together. And hopefully [Heat president] Pat [Riley] and the rest of those guys, [Heat owner] Micky [Arison], can bring some guys in to help us out, which we believe.”
James believes that he has made the right decision and, predictably, Gilbert does not.
Only the next NBA season will prove either of them right.
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