Drafted
This is a long time dream, and to finally accomplish this, and it finally shows that the hard work has finally paid off for me.
What's this? This is an unbiased just-the-facts news timeline ('newsline') about LeBron James, created by Newslines contributors. Become a contributor
The Cleveland Cavaliers
This is a long time dream, and to finally accomplish this, and it finally shows that the hard work has finally paid off for me.
In an exclusive interview with CNNMoney, Cuban says:
Come July 1st, yeah, of course, anybody would be interested in LeBron James, and if he leaves via free agency, then it’s going to be tough… if he decides to leave — there’s still a better chance he stays — then he’ll try to force a sign-and-trade, and that gives us a chance.
In the television special The Decision, James announces that he will join the Miami Heat (video link):
In this fall, this is very tough, in this fall I’m going to take my talents to South Beach and join the Miami Heat.
James gives an interview to The Talks. He discusses how he has changed over the years.
I hate it when people say you’ve changed, but of course I’ve changed. It’s only growth; it’s not a negative thing. I’ve got two kids, I’ve got responsibilities now, of course I’ve changed. It comes with growth. If you haven’t changed, that’s the problem.
James scores 20,000 career points and becomes the youngest player in the history of the NBA to reach the milestone. James is 28 years and 17 days old. The previous record holder, Kobe Bryant, was 29 years and 122 days old when he reached 20,000 points. James:
The best part about it is I was in a rhythm, too, so it wasn’t one of those forced shots. I was able to get the switch on David Lee and get to the elbow and make a shot. It’s pretty cool
In an issue of Sports Illustrated, Durant expresses his frustration at playing in James’ shadow:
I’ve been second my whole life. I was the second-best player in high school. I was the second pick in the draft. I’ve been second in the MVP voting three times. I came in second in the Finals. I’m tired of being second. I’m not going to settle for that. I’m done with it.
Durant says he uses his frustration as a means to self-improvement:
I don’t watch a lot of other basketball away from the gym. But I do look at LeBron’s box score. I want to see how many points, rebounds and assists he had, and how he shot from the field. If he had 30 points, nine rebounds and eight assists, I can tell you exactly how he did it, what type of shots he made and who he passed to.
On their friendship:
People see two young black basketball players at the top of their game and think we should clash. They want the conflict. They want the hate. They forget Bird cried for Magic. A friend was getting on me about this recently, and I said, ‘Calm down. I’m not taking it easy on him. Don’t you know I’m trying to destroy the guy every time I go on the court?’
James expresses his displeasure at finishing second in the voting for the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year award:
It sucks. It definitely sucks, though, finishing second. Who wants to finish second?
James averaged 6.8 defensive rebounds, 1.7 steals, and 1 block per game for the season, but he says the most important aspect of his defensive ability is his versatility:
I guard everybody on the floor. I don’t know if it’s one player in NBA history that’s guarded 1 (point guards) through 5 (centers). It’s over with now, but it’s cool.
James wins his fourth NBA Most Valuable Player award. James almost has a unanimous MVP selection, garnering 120 out of 121 first-place votes for the award. James averaged 26.8 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 7.3 assists per game for the season. He shot 56.5% from the floor and 40.6% from 3-point range. Heat president Pat Riley on James:
Over these 46 years, I’ve had an opportunity to see some great players — and all the ones I’ve observed, watched and have seen, they’ve always gotten better. In my humble opinion, I believe the man right here is the best of them all.
James leaves Game 1 of the NBA Finals before the match is finished because of severe leg cramping. The leg cramping is caused by extremely warm temperatures after the air conditioning in the arena malfunctions. James
It was the whole left leg, damn near the whole left side. I was losing a lot [of fluids] throughout the game. It was extremely hot in the building, you know, both teams, fans, everybody could feel it. I was the one that had to take the shot.
The San Antonio Spurs defeat the Miami Heat in Game 1 of the 2014 NBA Finals. For the Spurs, Duncan has 19 points and 10 rebounds. For the Heat, James has 25 points and 6 rebounds. The arena experiences an air conditioning malfunction during the match. Spurs coach Popovich:
It was tough on both teams. They were pretty dead. We tried to get guys in and out. … It was really hot out there.
The Miami Heat defeat the San Antonio Spurs in Game 2 of the 2014 NBA Finals. James leads the Heat with 35 points and 10 rebounds. For the Spurs, Duncan puts up 18 points and 15 rebounds. Duncan:
Down the end there they executed really well. LeBron made some great passes and guys made open shots. We had the same result in the first game. They kind of flipped it in this one.
The Spurs defeat the Miami Heat in Game 3 of the 2014 NBA Finals. Leonard leads the Spurs with 29 points and 4 rebounds. For the Heat, James drops 22 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists. The Spurs have a phenomenal first half, shooting 25-33 from the field. Ginobili:
It’s not something you can plan for. There was no magic plays. We just moved the ball, and every shot went in.
Spurs coach Popovich:
I don’t think we’ll ever shoot 76 percent in a half ever again.
The Spurs defeat the Heat in Game 4 of the NBA Finals and take a 3-1 series lead. Leonard puts up 20 points and 14 rebounds for the Spurs. James drops 28 points and 8 rebounds for the Heat. James:
They smashed us. Two straight home games got off to awful starts. They came in and were much better than us in these last two games. It’s just that simple.
Spurs coach Popovich:
I’m pleased that they performed as well as they did while we’ve been in Miami, and that’s about as far as it goes. Now we’ve got to go back home and play as well or better.
The San Antonio Spurs defeat the Miami Heat in Game 5 in order to win the 2014 NBA title. For the Heat, James puts up 31 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists. For the Spurs, Leonard puts up 22 points and 10 rebounds, and wins the Finals MVP award. James:
We had a great first quarter, but from that point on they were the better team, and that’s why they’re the champions in 2014.
Duncan:
It makes last year OK
According to James’ agent, Rich Paul, James’ will exercise the early termination option in his contract. James will be a free agent as of July 1, 2014. James had until June 30th to decide whether or not to opt out of the final two years of his contract with the Miami Heat. He would have made$20 million next season and had two years and about $42.7 million remaining on his deal.
James decides to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers. In a Sports Illustrated story, James says:
When I left Cleveland, I was on a mission. I was seeking championships, and we won two. But Miami already knew that feeling. Our city hasn’t had that feeling in a long, long, long time. My goal is still to win as many titles as possible, no question. But what’s most important for me is bringing one trophy back to Northeast Ohio. My relationship with Northeast Ohio is bigger than basketball. I didn’t realize that four years ago. I do now.
Miami Heat managing general partner Micky Arison posts on Twitter:
I am shocked & disappointed in today’s news. However I will never forget what Lebron brought us for 4 years. Thanks for memories.
James posts a picture on Instagram of himself in two different Cavaliers jerseys and asks the fans to choose which one he should wear to the homecoming.
http://instagram.com/p/qmQN46iTFt/?modal=true
James announces on Instagram and Twitter that he will go back to wearing 23 on his jersey. James wore number 23 in his rookie season in 2003-04 to the 2009-10 season, his initial gig with the Cavaliers, but he switched to his Olympic number 6 when he went to the Miami Heart. James says his number change at the time was partly to help the league honor Michael Jordan by permanently retiring his number across the league, which did not happen.
23 it is! It's only right I go back. 2·3=6 We still family 6. #HomeTeam #StriveForGreatness http://t.co/2MpznC8JNM
— LeBron James (@KingJames) July 27, 2014
James and Brinson welcome a baby girl, Zhuri. Zhuri joins her brothers, LeBron jr., 9, and Bryce Maximus, 7.
James, Garnett, Irving, and Williams wear the black shirts with white text during the pre-game warmups for the Nets-Cavs clash, after Bulls guard Derrick Rose wore the same shirt in a Saturday pre-game warmup in solidarity for Garner. Nets guard Jarrett Jack, who played for the Cavs last season and says he supplied the Cavs players with the shirts after he heard James was looking for them:
I just heard people’s opinion on the topic, and I know [the Cavaliers] are on the road, this is the place where it happened, so if they wanted to be a part of the cause or make a statement without actually necessarily saying any words, I definitely extended the invitation…I know us as a team we’re gonna go out and try to make a stance and show that we’re a team that’s not with prejudice. We want to have tolerance for everybody.
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