NBA superstar LeBron James set league rumors and speculations in motion after the Christmas Day game between the Miami Heat and the Cleveland Cavaliers in Florida, won by the Heat.
James returned to Miami for the first time since re-signing with Cleveland Cavaliers before the start of the 2014-15 NBA season. He was greeted with a standing ovation from Miami Heat fans.
Before the start of the game, the Heat played a video tribute to James for helping the team to four consecutive trips to the NBA Finals and netting two championship titles in the process, reports USA Today.
But it was Wade who delivered the better performance on Christmas Day en route to the Heat’s upset victory over the Cavs.
After the game, best friends James and Wade embraced on court as TV cameras surrounded them. It was then that the voice of LeBron was caught by a camera microphone saying a very interesting message.
James was quoted as saying to Wade that if the two of them would not be better this year, they would re-unite again and do some bigger and better things together.
It was a thrill of course for Miami Heat fans hearing James say that. But it was obviously an ominous statement for Cleveland Cavaliers fans. Wade has been in Miami since breaking into the NBA while James has had two teams already.
Of course, it could also mean James luring Wade to join him in Cleveland for next season but given Wade’s contract standing with the Miami Heat, it looks very remote.
Setting the records straight
It took almost a week before LeBron James came out to clarify his message to Wade during their teams’ Christmas Day game.
In a rather lengthy statement, James explained that he was not talking about basketball when he uttered that message to Dwyane.
The NBA superstar says that there is more to basketball among best friends. He also explained that had he mean about him and Wade joining together again on an NBA team, he would not have said it in front of all those cameras surrounding them.
James added that he could have said it before the game or somewhere private. But he said it because their friendship is bigger than basketball.
The chief Cav also cited that he may not have gone to college but he is not stupid and would not say something that would put the interest of his team in jeopardy.
No chance leaving Cleveland again
ProBasketball Talk also believes that LeBron James would not be leaving the Cavaliers again. Not in the coming summer or not in 2017.
Leaving Cleveland for the second time would be bad for business and bad for his image and brand. After building the hype of the returning prodigal son to his hometown, James simply cannot afford to do it again.
What James needs at this point is to focus on making Cleveland successful and piling up wins all the way to the playoffs. And when the team is there, they need to go deep and if possible, all the way to the NBA Finals, where James has yet to get a ring as a Cavalier.