LeBron James: Playing for the Cavaliers again ‘would be great’
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LeBron James is under contract with the Miami Heat for two more seasons. After that, he is free to once again take his talents anywhere he pleases.
Even back to Cleveland, a destination that James did not rule out when asked about it Thursday.
James was back in his old home gym for practice ahead of the Heat’s game against the Cavaliers on Friday night. When asked if he could see himself ever returning to the team he spurned on national television, James paused, then said he could.
“I think it would be great,” said James, who still has a home in nearby Bath, Ohio. “It would be fun to play in front of these fans again. I had a lot of fun times in my seven years here. You can’t predict the future and hopefully I continue to stay healthy. I’m here as a Miami Heat player, and I’m happy where I am now, but I don’t rule that out in no sense.
“And if I decide to come back, hopefully the fans will accept me.”
James’ decision to leave the team that drafted him to join the Heat -- and the way he handled the situation -- drew a heavy backlash from Cavaliers fans, as well as team owner Dan Gilbert. James said he has not spoken to Gilbert since that summer, but he has no hard feelings toward his former employer.
“I don’t hold grudges,” said James, who won two league MVP awards and made one NBA Finals appearance with the Cavaliers. “I hold them a little bit, but I don’t hold them that long. He said what he said out of anger and he would probably want to take that back. But I made a mistake, too, and there are some things I would want to take back as well.
“You make mistakes and move on.”
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-- Chuck Schilken
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
