NBA free agent LeBron James announced Thursday that he will play for the Miami Heat in one of the most anticipated free-agent announcements in sports history.
James said he made his final decision Thursday morning, after speaking with his mother.
"Once I had that conversation with her I think I was set," James told sportscaster Jim Gray.
The six-time NBA all-star and two-time league MVP said the chance to play alongside fellow stars Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami affected his decision.
Editorial cartoons, billboards and even quips from President Obama have accompanied the courting of "King James."
Speculation began to intensify last week over where the NBA's most sought-after free agent would choose to play after he started meeting with six teams vying for him: the New York Knicks, the New Jersey Nets, the Los Angeles Clippers, the Chicago Bulls, the Miami Heat and the Cleveland Cavaliers - the team he has spent his entire career with.
eatocracy: Dear LeBron, come for the hoops, stay for the grub
Rumors that the Miami Heat was the leading contender to grab James began to emerge this week, with Newsday's Alan Hahn tweeting the news after midnight Thursday.
In an interview in June with CNN's Larry King, James, 25, said Cleveland would have an "edge" if they tried to retain him after he became a free agent.
James has spent his entire seven-year career with the Cleveland Cavaliers, who drafted him out of high school in 2003.
"This city, these fans, I mean, have given me a lot in these last seven years... for me, it's comfortable," said James, who grew up in nearby Akron, Ohio. "I've got a lot of memories here. So it does have an edge."
But the six-time NBA all-star also said he's seeking an NBA title and wants to play with a team that can win more than one NBA championship. The Cavaliers were bounced from the second round of this year's playoffs by the Boston Celtics.
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Heat fans...be careful what you wish for. I hope this egomaniac experiment fails.
DON'T HATE! WHY STAY IN CLEVELAND! GO WHERE YOU CAN GET IT DONE!! OR BASICALLY WHERE YOU WANT TO GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE MADE AT LEBRON FOR GOING TO THE HEAT, THEN OFFER UP YOUR SKILLS AND TALENT TO THE CAVS AND PLAY FOR THEM IN HIS PLACE. DON'T HATE!
you guys are the ones that sound like idots. you only have one career. he's spent seven of those years with a losing team. I think he's given the cavaliers enough. he put them, back on the map. Lebron's never had a big ego. he's one of the best players to ever play the game...get off his jock strap
Not really big news in my opinion and contrary to popular belief not all of Ohio is all about LeBron James! I can't help but wonder how many of the faithful LeBron fans will remain faithful now that he has decided to do what's best for him. Just like every other bandwagon...things going your way, you're on; things not going your way, you jump off and jump on another one.
You must not really be from Ohio to say that. You know how bad things are there, not just in Cleveland. Ohioans don't deserve that, no matter how anyone feels about my state!
A perfect example of our twisted value system. Even if he does win his championship it will be meaningless. I wonder if his Loyalty tat will be removed
I really want to see a charter jet crash on the way to sign this deal
Karma calling!
This really makes a joke of the NBA. I hope no one in Toronto or Cleveland ever buys another ticket or watches another game on TV. I also hope James trips over Wade and they both break a leg.
he will NEVER be the man Kobe and Michael are laughing their asses off
I am no Kobe fan but at least he has won several championships
This guy couldn't hold Jordan's jock. Mike won with no center and never would be a follower or someone's robin
my my my why did he have to have us wait so long for him to turn his back on cleveland. oh well , i still wish him and his the best
OH WELL DON'T COUNT OUT THE LAKER'S LaBRON IS A GREAT PLAYER BUT HE IS NO KOBY BRYANT A PROVEN WINNER I FEEL BAD FOR THE CITY OF CLEVLAND IF YOU LAY DOWN WITH A DOG YOU ARE BOUND TO GET FLEE'S BUT LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE NOW YOU GUYS CAN TAKE THE PLAYERS THAT YOU HAVE THAT WANT TO BE THERE AND WIN AND I HOPE YOU ALL WIN EVERY GAME YOU PLAY VS MIAMI REMEMBER BENIDICT ARNOLD WELL LaBRON YOU ARE NOW THE BLACK VERSION – A CHEAP, POOR MAN 'S MICHAEL JORDAN – NOT A HERO KOBY BRYANT , OR MICHAEL JORDAN, NOT EVEN A DOMIQUE WILKIN'S SO- THANKS FOR CRUSHING THE HEARTS OF EVERY PERSON IN THE CITY OF CLEVLAND-
heres wishing the big C on lebum
25 year old tool – not of the character of MJ, Larry, Timmy, Magic, Kareem, DR. J, oer many others. Why would anyone support this fool.
Not a Cav's fan here – a basketball fan.
How in the hell is he selfish. He's taking less money and I figure, if Boston can do why can't the Heat???
A black hole is inevitable in Miami! Runn for your lives. Those three egos cannot co-exist down there!
Incredible! You can't blame the guy as he has accomplished everything in his sport except that ring. Basketball is entertainment (global) and these athletes have given their lives to entertain us. They deserve every penny they get as their careers can be over in a blink of an eye. As I live in Miami, I;m dazed! Which T should I buy? And I was going to cancel my HD subscription after Spain wins the World Cup on Sunday... dammmm