LeBron ‘almost had tears in his eyes’ after The Decision
Cleveland Cavaliers fans weren’t the only ones stung from LeBron James’ first free agency decision.
As a result of LeBron James’ greatness — considered a talent that could rival the iconic Michael Jordan — and his relationship to Northeast Ohio, the friends, fans and family in Cleveland and his hometown of Akron, the 2010 offseason will go down as one of the most important free agency periods in NBA history.
On July 8, 2010, James announced that he would “take [his] talents to South Beach” in such a brazen tone that you would think he wasn’t leaving millions of fans behind in Cleveland but instead going to a city full of people who had supported him, emboldened him and in some cases molded him into the great player and person that he is.
The move away from the Cleveland Cavaliers and to the Miami Heat, which was technically a trade, was met with disgust, exasperation and rage.
Fans took to burning James’ jerseys and leaving the crumpled, blackened remains in the street.
Team owner Dan Gilbert published a scathing letter that, though in poor taste, spoke to the level of love and reliance the city had for James.
“Clearly, this is bitterly disappointing to all of us,” Gilbert would write.
Yet, only one side of the story has been known. Until now.
Thanks to author Ian Thomsen, who chronicled the events that took place before and after The Decision in his book, “The Soul of Basketball: The Epic Showdown between LeBron, Kobe, Doc and Dirk that Saved the NBA,” new details have been made available about that fateful day.
Here are a couple of excerpts about the immediate aftermath of The Decision that shed an interesting light on James’ mental and emotional state after the announcement was made (quotes transcribed by ESPN’s Jackie MacMullan), courtesy of Miami Heat president of basketball operations Pat Riley:
"“That night at three in the morning we met him at the airport,” Riley told Thomsen. “He had two private charters come in, and I brought a lot of people down, family and everything. They got off the plane, and I remember walking right up to LeBron. He was worn-out. He was just worn-out. He almost had tears in his eyes.”"
"“LeBron just gave me a big hug and he slumped. And I just remember how heavy this was for all of them. It wasn’t like they were smiling and happy to be in Miami. They had just broken the chain of his life in Akron, and it took tremendous guts to do that.”"
James felt genuine pain from the reactions people had about him choosing to sign with the Heat. He also felt satisfaction in his decision, despite the massive amount of effort it took for him to leave the area he had been for the first 25 years of his life.
Where he was born and raised. Where he struggled and triumphed. Where he discovered his passion and realized his dreams of making it to the NBA.
Where he ascended from “a kid in Akron” to “the Chosen One”.
Perhaps James felt like the fans in Northeast Ohio would be happy for him and support him regardless. Of course a few diehards and fans who weren’t necessarily his fans might stop supporting him but not the majority of them.
Such a line of thinking would make sense for why he was seemingly dumbfounded by Riley’s concern that there would be a major fallout from the decision.
"“And both of them, Maverick [Carter] and LeBron, looked at me,” Riley recalled. “Like, ‘Fear? Afraid of what?’ They almost mocked me. This was a big decision. I was trying to tell them, ‘S— [is] going to hit the fan, man.’ ‘Afraid? Us?’ They had so much confidence in what they were doing…”"
While his decision to join the Heat and an over-the-top welcome rally in which James infamously promised “not one, not two, not three…” NBA championships for the trio instantly made James the league’s number one villain, it was only after the Miami Heat lost to the Dallas Mavericks in the 2011 NBA Finals did NBA fans turn to seriously mocking James.
Citing his need to join up with All-Stars Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, his lack of mental fortitude and his then 0-2 NBA Finals record, as reasons he’d never live up to his billing as the next Jordan.
James’ first dose of redemption came the following year, as the Heat defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder’s quartet of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, James Harden and Serge Ibaka. A team with two players who would go on to win NBA MVP. Three if Harden wins the MVP award this season, as expected.
Repeating and defeating the San Antonio Spurs team who swept his Cavs in the 2007 NBA Finals turned James into a seasoned champion, confident in ability, glory and might.
Since 2010, James has been the NBA Finals eight straight years and has won three championships.
The most impressive of which was the Cleveland Cavaliers 2016 NBA Finals series against the Golden State Warriors. After storming back from a 3-1 deficit, James delivered on his goal of bringing a championship to Cleveland and ending the city’s 52-year title drought. James would win Finals MVP and deliver a heartfelt message to city that loved him so much they truly felt heartache without him.
His Finals journey doesn’t parallel Jordan’s, who went 6-0 on the world’s greatest stage.
However, James’ path has led him to a different type of “greatness.” One that extends past the court and into the hearts of people who see him as an authentic inspiration.
The heartbeat of Northeast Ohio resides in LeBron James.
As it always has.