After four years away, it looks like King James will take his throne back to Cleveland.
A photo on LeBron James’ Instagram account Friday seemed to confirm a Sports Illustrated report that he’s leaving the Miami Heat for the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he spent the first seven years of his career.
The photo, showing the four-time league MVP in a Cavaliers jersey, said: “I’m coming home.”
James, in a piece he wrote with SI’s Lee Jenkins, said he “always believed that I’d return to Cleveland and finish my career there.”
“I just didn’t know when,” the piece said. “After the season, free agency wasn’t even a thought. But I have two boys and my wife, Savannah, is pregnant with a girl. I started thinking about what it would be like to raise my family in my hometown.
“I looked at other teams, but I wasn’t going to leave Miami for anywhere except Cleveland. The more time passed, the more it felt right. This is what makes me happy.”
James leaves Miami having won two NBA titles, appearing in the title series four consecutive years.
“When I left Cleveland, I was on a mission. I was seeking championships, and we won two. But Miami already knew that feeling,” James wrote. “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.”
The news generated intense interest as soon as it broke, around 12:30 p.m.. Car horns honked in Cleveland, CNN’s Martin Savidge reported from the city. And three of the top 10 trending terms on Twitter were almost instantly related to James.
