After four straight NBA Finals appearances, two championships, and two Finals MVPs, the best basketball player in the world returned to his hometown team, where his career begin. I didn't think he'd consider a return until later in his career. It surprised me because the Cavs have been the worse team in the league since he left. But as I read his masterfully written article "I'm Coming Home" explaining his decision, I realized it was a perfect move in almost every way. First, let's talk from a basketball point of view. Ironically, LeBron's departure - which allowed the Cavs to go from the NBA's best record to the worst record - actually facilitated the infusion of young talent (Kyrie Irving, Andrew Wiggins, Anthony Bennett...kinda) that made them more appealing; and may serve as trade chips to get a big fish like Kevin Love. That team, as currently constructed without Love, doesn't look like a contender right now. But assuming Irving and Wiggins develop, they could be a contender in 2-3 years and remain there for a decade. Can you imagine the legacy boost of winning a championship in CLEVELAND? That's like winning 2 or 3 for a winning franchise. From a business standpoint, he was saavy enough to fund his lifelong friends' educations and empowering them to become his agent and advisors; they now have businesses, all based in Cleveland. His best friend and agent, Rich Paul's, second biggest client now plays for the Cleveland Browns; some guy named Johnny Manziel. Imagine the marketing opportunities for two of the most polarizing and popular athletes both in little Cleveland represented by the same agency; and they're friends. That usually doesn't happen outside of big marketing locations like New York and Los Angeles. And hell, LeBron might want to own the Cavs one day; and he seems business saavy enough to be in position financially one day. But most importantly, it made sense from a personal perspective. For someone who had to watch his hometown fans burning his jersey, I can't imagine a better story than righting that wrong and returning your hometown team to glory. Now those ppl are rushing to buy new ones, since the popular Google search, "how to un-burn a jersey" probably isn't getting ppl too far. As much as he's done with his charitable foundation in Miami, he really wants to help and inspire the youth of his hometown above all else. Plus his wife wants to raise their kids there. Overall, as much Miami hates it and LeBron haters try to use it against him, this was a hell of a move on all counts. Congrats Cleveland, after all of your sports heartbreak, the King has returned.
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