LeBron James on being embraced again in Cleveland: 'I think time heals all'

by William Lou 1h ago

Kelley L Cox / USA TODAY Sports

The summer of 2010 changed everything for LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
After seven seasons of playoff futility, playing alongside over-the-hill stars and passable role players, Akron's golden boy got tired of waiting and took matters into his own hands. James teamed up with Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade in Miami to form a superteam that won two championships.
Cleveland fans - especially Cavs owner Dan Gilbert - did not take kindly to James's exit.
But James has since mended fences with the franchise and its fanbase. With two titles and more wisdom in hand, James returned to Cleveland last summer and has dragged the wounded Cavaliers to the NBA Finals. In looking back, James feels that the love has returned once more.
"I think time heals all," James told Michael Lee of the Washington Post on Wednesday. "It was a bitter moment when I left the first time, but it’s a sweet moment here now that I’m back. Both sides had an opportunity to kind of miss each other, and they say if it’s worth having and it’s supposed to be there, then it will always come back."
The passage of time has indeed rehabbed James's image. Tempers flared in Ohio after James left in 2010 but the bitterness has faded.
Of course, having the best player in the world return to the team helped as well. And along with his talents, James brought winning back to Cleveland. The Cavaliers missed the playoff in each of the four seasons James spent in Miami, amassing a record of 97-215. In his first season back, James has the Cavaliers up 2-1 in the Finals.
"No one expected us to be where we’re at right now – and it’s because of LeBron James that we’re here," James's teammate Mike Miller said. "He understands the situation, which is what makes him so special. He’s so smart. What makes him a great player is he adapts to his surroundings."