LeBron James finally made his return to the city of Cleveland earlier today; his first game in his home town since leaving his beloved Cavaliers for the bright lights of the Los Angeles Lakers this past NBA off-season.
LeBron and the Lakers faced off against the Cavs in Cleveland for the first time this season, bringing LeBron home to the Quicken Loans Arena for the first time since his free agency switch.
And while the first time he left Cleveland wasn’t exactly on the greatest of terms, this time around the love for LeBron in The Land was much more palpable.
As he made his way onto the court, fans in the arena gave their NBA Championship hero a standing, warm, and genuinely sincere ovation.
LeBron James receives a warm welcoming back in Cleveland!
WATCH the action on ESPN pic.twitter.com/qUV7x0BNmF
— NBA (@NBA) November 22, 2018
But the Cavaliers went a step further, taking time out during the game to thank LeBron not just for his on-court efforts – efforts that brought the city of Cleveland its first pro-sports title in over 50 years – but also for his enormous contributions to the community off the court, through his own foundation and through founding and personally funding the I Promise school; work that’s helped countless poor families give their kids the education they need.
The @cavs thank LeBron James for all he did both on and off the court in Cleveland! #ThisIsWhyWePlay
TUNE IN ON ESPN pic.twitter.com/D3hJjKpJmS
— NBA (@NBA) November 22, 2018
That’s how the hell it’s done right there. Nothing but pure class from all parties involved.
You can take the boy out of Cleveland, but you’ll never, ever take Cleveland out of the boy.
