Lebron James Says hes open on return to cavs one day

[Solaris Phase Two]

LeBron James says he could picture returning to the place where his NBA journey began.
Back in Cleveland.
Imagine that.
After practicing in a gym where he refined his game for seven seasons, James said Thursday he would not rule out a return to the Cavaliers, the team he carried to the brink of a championship before he spurned an entire region by leaving as a free agent for Miami in 2010.
Asked if he could play for the Cavs again, James initially paused before giving his answer.
"I don't know. I think it would be great," he said. "It would be fun to play in front of these fans again. I had a lot fun times in my seven years here. You can't predict the future and hopefully I continue to stay healthy. I'm here as a Miami Heat player, and I'm happy where I am now, but I don't rule that out in no sense.
"And if I decide to come back, hopefully the fans will accept me."
James put Cleveland back on the NBA map by taking the Cavs to one finals and winning two MVP awards during his stay. He left the franchise during a summer in which he held an entire city at bay as it awaited his decision. After he announced he was joining the Heat during a nationally televised special, the Akron native was vilified by the same fans who cheered every one of his dribbles and dunks.
Time has healed some of the wounds - not all.
James has made no attempt to patch things up with Cavs owner Dan Gilbert, who harshly criticized James in a scathing letter to Cleveland's fans. Gilbert promised to win a title before James, questioned his character and told The Associated Press he felt James quit on the Cavs during the playoffs.
James said he has no bitterness toward Gilbert. They have not spoken since James met with the Cavaliers on July 3, 2010, when they were one of several teams courting him to sign with them.
"I don't have any hard feelings. He said what he said and I've moved on," said James, who is under contract with the Heat for two more seasons. "But there's been no attempt to patch things up."
James, however, said he can envision being friends again with Gilbert.
"I don't hold grudges," he said. "I hold them a little bit, but I don't hold them that long. He said what he said out of anger and he would probably want to take that back. But I made a mistake, too, and there are some things I would want to take back as well.
"You make mistakes and move on."
On Friday night, James will play his third game in Cleveland since leaving. The reception won't be nearly as hostile as it was on Dec. 2 last season toward James, who spent the past two days at his colossal home he has kept in nearby Bath, Ohio.
James expects to be booed, but it won't be as nasty as before.
"It doesn't sting anymore," James said. "The booing isn't as bad as it was last year so it's not even a big deal."
James' comments about a hypothetical return to Cleveland didn't surprise teammate Dwyane Wade.
Could Wade imagine James with the Cavs again?
"Anything is possible," he said. "Hopefully, I'm retired."

from nba.com

[shadowgrin]

LeBron just wanting to be liked again and be the attention whore that he is.

[Sideshow Bob]

LeBron just wanting to be liked again

I would too... Who the hell wants to be hated by there own hometown?

[Andrew]

This came up a couple of weeks ago as well. I wouldn't read too much into it, we're talking about something that would be happening a long way down the road if at all. It's more a case of him never saying never, but right now it's difficult to imagine it happening.

[Radioman]

LeBron is a windbag. He talks his head off in the media.

[RedPhazon8]

It's his fault, and he didn't go to college...

[Sauru]

this is a pointless story. whats he gonna say? fuck them i would never go back there? all he said we the typical PC bullshit most athletes say

[Andrew]

Woj claims it's more than that: LeBron James’ sly campaign to return to Cleveland followed a private message to Dan Gilbert

Still, it just seems so unlikely to me. Why would he be unhappy in Miami, where he's winning and has two other stars on the team? Stars he has to share the spotlight with, yes, but stars who are also there to shoulder the load and perhaps more importantly, blame and responsibility when things don't go well. Maybe he would like to return to Cleveland one day so he's playing closer to home and finishing his career when it started, but if it were to ever happen - and that still feels like a really big if at this time - I'd say it would be much closer to the end of his career.

Woj has a point about LeBron liking attention and the feeling of being recruited, one certainly does get that impression given what happened over the past couple of years. Still, it's just very hard to imagine him returning to the Cavs or having a strong desire to do so, while Miami is fresh off an NBA Finals appearance and among the top teams in the league again this season.

[Patr1ck]

He is probably home sick.

[NovU]

What was he supposed to say, surrounded by CLE media in CLE? That he hates to play for CLE again? Lolz. People always read too much into what he says.

[Main Bounce]

LOL that's all BULLSHIT!!! He is just trying to improve his SHITTY image now!!! Why won't he demand a trade if that's true???

[kevin02]

There is no way Lebron will be coming back in the next few years. However I wouldn't be surprised ,after he wins a few championships in Miami and is in the later years of his career, if he comes back. It might be hard to imagine now but maybe 5 years from now when the cavs are contenders again, (hopefully) need one more piece and Lebron James is willing to come back! By then the anger at Lebron will be basically gone, Lebron will want to come back to improve his image in his home state and help win us the championship he promised us so many times.