Yesterday was the 12-year anniversary of LeBron’s Sports Illustrated essay where he wrote, “I always believed that I’d return to Cleveland and finish my career there.” He has now played longer since writing that than he had before it.
He made his NBA debut on Oct 29, 2003. From his essay “I’m Coming Home” published on Jul 11, 2014:
“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.
I always believed that I’d return to Cleveland and finish my career there. I just didn’t know when. After the season, free agency wasn’t even a thought. But I have two boys and my wife, Savannah, is pregnant with a girl. I started thinking about what it would be like to raise my family in my hometown. I looked at other teams, but I wasn’t going to leave Miami for anywhere except Cleveland. The more time passed, the more it felt right. This is what makes me happy.”