[View the story "Fans react to LeBron James' return to Cleveland" on Storify ]Fans react to LeBron James' return to Cleveland Cleveland fans were elated Friday after NBA star LeBron James announced that he was returning to play with the Cavaliers, the team he had played seven seasons with before joining the Miami Heat in 2010.
Storified by CTVNews.ca · Fri, Jul 11 2014 21:11:56
James, who hails from nearby Akron, Ohio, told Sports Illustrated the move to Cleveland marked a return "home." He later published this photo to his Instagram account.
LeBron James
Dan Gilbert, owner of the Cavaliers, took to Twitter to welcome James back. The tone of the tweet was much different from an infamous letter Gilbert once wrote to James, in which he called the NBA star a coward and a quitter for choosing to play for Miami.
Welcome Home @kingjames. I am excited for the fans and people of Cleveland and Ohio. No fans and people deserve a winner more than them.....Dan Gilbert
Many online poked fun at the fraught relationship between James and Gilbert:
::golf clap:: RT @MatthewKick: What Dan Gilbert needs to do...
@jemelehill
#Cleveland #LeBronJames http://t.co/bmqCwMZBBwJemele Hill
Meanwhile, Miami Heat owner Micky Arison expressed his disappointment:
I am shocked & disappointed in today's news. However I will never forget what Lebron brought us for 4 years. Thanks for memories @KingJamesMicky Arison
Cleveland fans were quick to celebrate the good news, flooding social media with photos and memes about James' pending return:
Photo: A fan outside LeBron James house cheers the return of LeBron James to the Cleveland Cavaliers http://t.co/l3Y9xcroUgNEOMG Cavs
The Return of the King @KingJames #KingJames #Cleveland #NBA http://t.co/7QdgosN4j8Eric Hubbard
#LeBron #ClevelandCavaliers #Cavs #BackToCleveland #TheDecision2 #KingJames #LeBronJames http://t.co/0e2kXAfwTQJoseph Martin
Others noted that Cavs fans would soon be digging out their old James jerseys from the trash:
.@cavs fans be all like #LeBronWatch2014 #kingjames http://t.co/Td8DYGgwmLCOED.com
Best one yet. #LeBronJames http://t.co/q8yeMq4tioBrianna Cullen
And some wondered what kind of reception the Cleveland sports media would give to the star:
In 2010 we spoke to The Plain Dealer about this LeBron front page. We eagerly await tomorrow’s http://t.co/HuXG8TMCjL http://t.co/mVZNfth8INPoynter
Others noted James' departure from the Heat would undoubtedly hurt Miami fans. James had helped lead the Heat to four NBA Championship finals.
Lmao Let The Twitter Drag Began Lol..Still Got Love For Miami But Hey If Bron Go. #FavoritePlayer #LeBronJames http://t.co/Rw8Y0U4L0TUSHERHOLIC
"Lebron James signs with Cleveland"
http://t.co/AKkjCmRSWG
The goodwills across miami will now be full of Lebron James Heat jerseysL
@Hot983 #LeBronJames #MiamiHeat http://t.co/FQe5jzni0deddie
Other Heat fans brushed off the move, noting that James won his only two NBA championships with Miami.
#Lmfao #Lmao #Lol #CavsFans #LebronJames #AintNoneOfMyBusiness #IJS #MiamiHeatAllDayEveryDay… http://t.co/mwRYdB3umnAndrew B
