The Internet Reacts to LeBron James’s Cleveland Bombshell

By now, you’ve probably already heard that the legendary LeBron James gave an exclusive interview to Sports Illustrated where he declared that he is returning to his home town of Cleveland to play for the Cavaliers. 

“When I left Cleveland, I was on a mission,” he said in the interview. “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 time.”

“My goal is still to win as many titles as possible, no question,” he continued. “But what’s most important for me is bringing one trophy back to North-East Ohio.”

Stirring words indeed. It goes without saying that the news has shaken the NBA and its fans pretty heavily, and some have reacted better than others.

Someone has defaced LeBron’s image on #Heat mural that took 2+ years to create http://t.co/QQ0ZbMUHna #NotCool pic.twitter.com/Ru5DwbBC6U

— WPLG Local 10 Sports (@Local10Sports) July 11, 2014

For instance, an angry Miami Heat fan has already defaced LeBron’s image in a team mural.

Destroyed my Lebron Jersey #LebronToCleveland pic.twitter.com/kkEfJ1WRKQ

— The Best Gear™ (@TheBestGear) July 11, 2014

Some followed through.

Cleveland Cavaliers fans looking for their old LeBron James jerseys! #Cavs pic.twitter.com/WsPpsSGUAs

— NBA Memes (@NBAMemes) July 10, 2014

There was a lot of this going around.

Twitter went crazy with memes about @KingJames as he returns to Cleveland http://t.co/jCnFYZx9vO pic.twitter.com/m1HPxnyWzI

— Sports Pics (@AmazingSprtsPic) July 11, 2014

A lot of people shared Drake memes – he’s a man who knows a thing or two about going home, after all.

For LeBron James, Northeast Ohio has always held a special place in his heart. » http://t.co/ihbaOgmPBI pic.twitter.com/K41QqNq2lQ

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 12, 2014

Some pointed out that the decision was pretty inevitable.

ESPN during all this LeBron coverage pic.twitter.com/2Y2KIblVqt

— Thad Castle (@BMS_ThadCastle) July 11, 2014

It seems that sports network ESPN got a little excited during all the coverage.

LOL! @Shaq posted this on Instagram | http://t.co/t0DHoIvxbf pic.twitter.com/6dZZ7eZxxd

— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) July 12, 2014

As someone who changed teams himself more than a few times over the course of his career, the legendary Shaquille O’Neal offered some much-needed perspective on the whole situation.

If I had a dollar for every time I saw someone tweet “I was never a heat fan, I’m a Lebron fan” pic.twitter.com/gu1sa3okL5

— † Fifth Street Fox (@Devinthejust) July 12, 2014

Those fans who supported the decision were quick to come out and declare their allegiance to James over the team.

Photo: A fan outside LeBron James house cheers the return of LeBron James to the Cleveland Cavaliers pic.twitter.com/l3Y9xcroUg

— NEOMG Cavs (@PDcavsinsider) July 11, 2014

Meanwhile, the scene outside James’s Cleveland home was crazy.

The madness outside of LeBron’s house now includes a car crash http://t.co/sQcGcgiH1a pic.twitter.com/wDJOL9kaTZ

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 10, 2014

Like, car crash crazy.

LeBron is already up on buildings and billboards in Cleveland. (h/t @clevezirm) pic.twitter.com/EMOznyn3BK

— NBA Legion (@MySportsLegion) July 11, 2014

All that madness aside, though, the city of Cleveland seems pretty happy to have him back.

Photo: Andy Lyons via Getty Images