Cavaliers vs. Lakers: LeBron Hoping For Positive Reception, Tribute Video Planned

LeBron James will return to Cleveland for the first time since joining the Los Angeles Lakers as a free agent earlier this summer. The small forward, who is considered arguably the greatest basketball player in the history of the game, spent 11 seasons with the Cavaliers in two different stints.

James started his NBA career with the Cavaliers but left in 2010 to join the Miami Heat, much to the ire of the Cleveland sports fans, who considered him one of their own. He was met with a hostile reception when he came back to the city to play as a Heat in 2010, but he is not expecting a repeat when he returns to the city, this time as a Lakers player, Wednesday night.

The 33-year-old returned to his hometown franchise in 2014 and immediately repaid them by taking them to the NBA title in 2016, defeating the Golden State Warriors. He led them to four straight Eastern Conference titles between 2014 and 2018 before departing to join the second most successful franchise in NBA history.

James admitted he would understand that if there was some negativity, as the Cleveland sports fans’ first obligation is to support the Cavaliers and not the three-time NBA champion. He is now a more mature player than he was in 2010 and has gone through many ups and downs in the last eight years.

“S---, it better not be,” James said, referring to the hate he received in 2010, as quoted on Silver Screen and Roll. “It doesn’t matter if it’s negative, because the only thing that matters is what I gave to the city, what I gave to that community, what I’m still giving to that community.”

“It doesn’t matter. At the end of the day, they have one obligation and that’s to cheer for their team. And I’m not on the team,” the Lakers forward added. “And personally I’m in a wholly different space than I was in 2010, so s--- doesn’t bother me.”

The 14-time NBA all-star, however, was keen to not pay too much attention to all the happenings off the court and wanted to look at it as just another game. James wanted the Lakers to continue their momentum which has seen them win seven of their last nine games, it is a good run of form after a poor start to the campaign.

He admitted he would have friends and family coming to watch the game – and he would meet them prior to the game. But once the ball tips off, James’ focus would be simply on winning the game for his team, similar to what he did when the Lakers took on his former team, the Heat, on Sunday night.

“I don’t try to put too much into it. I’m gonna go out there and see if we can keep this thing going. We’re playing some really good ball right now,” James said. “I’ll see some familiar faces like I did when I arrived [in Miami on Sunday]. I’ll think about some of the good, I’ll think about some of the bad, I’ll think about some of the great that I had with the franchise.”

“And then once the tip ball gets going it’s time to go to work. I’ll see some of my family that’s going to come to the games. See some of my friends as well and then get the thing going.”

Meanwhile, according to Cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor, James should have no fear of getting a frosty reception on his first return to the Quicken Loans Arena, as the Cavaliers are said to be preparing a tribute video – to be played before the game – honoring James for his 11 seasons with the franchise.