Observation : There were clues going back to 2011.

[NYKMentality85]

I feel and believe this is a simple situation. As simple as it gets too.

LeBron ran to Riley, Bosh and Wade in order to (finally) win an NBA championship. In a way, he used the Miami Heat as a franchise in order to satisfy his own desires.

After LeBron finally won an NBA championship (x2), there was nothing else for him to prove in Miami. Or anywhere else for that matter (outside of Cleveland).

He wanted to return home. Where he's truly the King. Which is within the city of Cleveland. Which is less than 40 minutes away from Akron.

LeBron James has accomplished everything an NBA player could have ever accomplished. There's only one thing he's yet to accomplish.

He's won NBA Championship(s).
He's won MVP's.
He's won Final's MVP's.
He's won Olympic Gold Medals.
He's made All-Star teams.
He's made All-NBA 1st Teams.
He's made All-NBA Defense 1st Teams.
Won the Rookie of the Year award.
He's been an NBA scoring champion.
Ohio Mr. Basketball.
McDonald's All-American Game MVP.
Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year.
Sporting News Athlete of the Year.
USA Male Basketball Athlete of the Year.

His NBA career is already complete. There was nothing more the Miami Heat could offer LeBron James moving forward. He's seen it and done it all. Except one thing; Which is win a Championship for his HOME of Cleveland.

The city of Cleveland, regardless of sport, hasn't won a single championship in over 50 years. LeBron James will be and is determined to change that. LeBron brings a freaking championship to the city of CLEVELAND? And he'll reach the type of Icon/Legend status in which he could have never reached in Miami. Not one. Not two. Not three. Not four. Not five. Not six. etc. LeBron could have won 7 rings in Miami, and it still wouldn't compare to winning ONE RING in CLEVELAND.

LeBron James is (and was) returning home and there's nothing the Heat franchise could've done differently. It was his fait along with his destiny.

[HeatFanSince87]

This is going to be written, not in paragraphs, but in short bullet style points as I fire off the events throughout the timeline and why I think LeBron left Miami. I believe I have a very good nose for this sort of stuff, and I noticed these clues back then, and mentioned it to friends and family, but nobody thought it was a big deal.

I believe the reason LeBron James left Miami, is because he did not feel the "family" atmosphere that he was sold in 2010. I am not saying that the Heat treated him poorly. I am simply saying, that there is Real World and then there is LeBron World. Pat may have thought everything was fine, but that's for Real World. You have to think in terms of LeBron.

I will list the clues I remember, that point directly to this decision by LeBron James to leave Miami :

- During the 2011 Eastern Conference Semi-Finals between Miami and Boston, the Heat defeated the Celtics in 5 games I believe it was. During the seconds after the timer expired and the series was over, Dwyane Wade leaped towards the basketball and fell backwards into the stands where the fans are. The cameras caught this moment. He fell to the floor hard. I don't know how many of you remember this. LeBron then helped Wade up off the ground, and made a comment to the reporters in his interview about the situation : "We have to protect the Franchise". PAUSE. That right there. I have the video of it on my computer. LeBron calling Wade the Franchise. When I heard it, I immediately knew there was something there. Pat Riley was treating Wade like the centerpiece, like the beloved son, and LeBron James was not being given that same love. The rules were not being bent for LeBron like they were for Wade. One of the Big 3 was being treated differently. LeBron obviously felt this, and began to be open about it in joking fashion - but there was something deeper there. LeBron wants to feel like he's the franchise too.

- In the next round, after the 2011 Eastern Conference Finals vs the Chicago Bulls, during the ECF Trophy presentation, the Heat were accepting the trophy. LeBron James was all the way in the back of the crowd. Literally, all the way in the back of every Heat player. While Dwyane Wade was smiling, standing next to Pat Riley front and center, in front of the cameras. The Heat received the trophy, and Wade was the team Ambassador. Pat Riley didn't even look around for LeBron. When I saw that, I remember calling into my local radio station with Zaslow and mentioning it. I thought Pat should have stopped, looked around, and made a point of grabbing Chris Bosh and LeBron James to stand there too. I would even go as far as saying that LeBron may have intentionally stood all the way in the back to see if Pat Riley would even care. You might think this is a silly point. But I don't. Because this is not Real World. This is LeBron World. And in LeBron World, you better show him a lot of love and attention. LeBron was hurt. He was sold this "Family" atmosphere in 2010, and here you are. Watching Pat Riley love Dwyane, and not you. You're not the coddled Franchise player anymore like you were in Cleveland. They (Pat and the Heat) don't even care that LeBron James is nowhere to be found during the awards.

- You see, I think 2010-2011 was a shock to LeBron. And then after that, LeBron just accepted it and was counting down the days until he leaves Miami. He was sold a bill of goods but he wasn't feeling the Family. Wade is, but not him.

- This carried over into the 2013-2014 season. Dwyane Wade was on a maintenance program. Taking many games off, while LeBron was out there trying to win. LeBron openly commented on this situation during the season, several times. Sometimes he seemed annoyed about it. Frustration. LeBron may have thought that the Heat are running him into the ground and they don't care about his body, but Wade? Let's coddle him and rest him. The Heat would not even inform LeBron of when Wade was going to be sitting sometimes. This would obviously feed into LeBron's mind. Wade is the Franchise. I am not. This is not my home. This is not my family.

- So, LeBron feels he just wants to go Home. LeBron James might think - "At least there, I was the center of Cleveland's world. The Cavaliers will bend over backwards for me. Pat wouldn't. The Cavaliers would make me feel better. I won't feel like I'm being used. Whatever I want, I will get there."

This decision was not a basketball one. If the Miami Heat had 3-peated, LeBron James would still go to the Cavaliers. This was about how he felt, his happiness, feeling like Home. The Heat did not make him feel that way, and there was a bit of disappointment with how Wade was treated compared to him.

I don't want to blame Pat. I love Pat. But he had a hand in this, not because Pat did something wrong - but because Pat Riley failed to understand how to treat someone that has been the center of the sports world's attention since he was 17 years old.

Interesting points and I do agree to some extent and this carried over in the finals meltdown. To this day and no one can tell me different, this is why I feel Lebron melted down in the 2011 finals.

Let's all remember Lebron was on fire against boston and Chicago. Super clutch... Huge shots on the road in game 4 against Boston then closed them out when down 3 and scored last 12 points in game 5. Then **** down Rose in the big moments and him and Wade had that comeback in Chicago down 13 with 4 mins left.

I think Wade and Bron both tried harder against the celtics and bulls and thought Dallas would be a cake walk Everyone said he choked in the finals but game 1 he looked just as good. Like 24 points or something. When we got up 15 on that 3 by Wade, with 8 mins left in game 2, I'm convinced Wade and Lebron had an "understanding" to let Lebron "get his" so they could win co-MVP of the finals. Lebron knew he couldn't win a title and not be the MVP. How bad would that look?? So remember Lebron started firing off dumb shots then the lead fell apart.

I am convinced Riley or Spo.. Someone kinda ripped into Lebron and told him don't ever try that **** again. Then what happened.. Games 3,4 and 5... The man started playing hot potato. His ego was crushed, and it crushed his play. Look back at games 1-2 in the finals. Lebron was his usual self until the final mins of game 2.... And the next several games. It wasn't just him missing shots. He didn't want the ball.

I hope one day someone that knows the true story comes out.. But I feel this is what happened.

[HeatFanSince87]

I feel and believe this is a simple situation. As simple as it gets too.

LeBron ran to Riley, Bosh and Wade in order to (finally) win an NBA championship. In a way, he used the Miami Heat as a franchise in order to satisfy his own desires.

After LeBron finally won an NBA championship (x2), there was nothing else for him to prove in Miami. Or anywhere else for that matter (outside of Cleveland).

He wanted to return home. Where he's truly the King. Which is within the city of Cleveland. Which is less than 40 minutes away from Akron.

LeBron James has accomplished everything an NBA player could have ever accomplished. There's only one thing he's yet to accomplish.

He's won NBA Championship(s).
He's won MVP's.
He's won Final's MVP's.
He's won Olympic Gold Medals.
He's made All-Star teams.
He's made All-NBA 1st Teams.
He's made All-NBA Defense 1st Teams.
Won the Rookie of the Year award.
He's been an NBA scoring champion.
Ohio Mr. Basketball.
McDonald's All-American Game MVP.
Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year.
Sporting News Athlete of the Year.
USA Male Basketball Athlete of the Year.

His NBA career is already complete. There was nothing more the Miami Heat could offer LeBron James moving forward. He's seen it and done it all. Except one thing; Which is win a Championship for his HOME of Cleveland.

The city of Cleveland, regardless of sport, hasn't won a single championship in over 50 years. LeBron James will be and is determined to change that. LeBron brings a freaking championship to the city of CLEVELAND? And he'll reach the type of Icon/Legend status in which he could have never reached in Miami. Not one. Not two. Not three. Not four. Not five. Not six. etc. LeBron could have won 7 rings in Miami, and it still wouldn't compare to winning ONE RING in CLEVELAND.

LeBron James is (and was) returning home and there's nothing the Heat franchise could've done differently. It was his fait along with his destiny.

Disagree. He wanted to chase Jordan's 6 rings. He began to realize what's the point? Every season he doesn't win a title in Miami.. It's a failure. Even if he won 2 more in Miami.. No one would give him the credit he felt he deserved. So I feel, between missing home and knowing it would never be enough in Miami.. He decided f it. CLE has a young team, I can go home and play up the redemption thing.. And even if I just win one there.. I'm golden. The media has already turned back on his side, which is big... Now they will praise him no matter what.

And he can do what he wants in CLE as can his boys. He missed that.

[qm22]

Well, it carries over. This was a culmination of LeBron James feeling unhappy. If the Heat had done a better job of making him feel like family, I think he would have stayed.

But why did he leave Cleveland then, if they treated him and his entourage so well in the first place.
I think that was a factor, but not the main factor. I think he really doesn't want the pressure, of winning it every year.
He put that pressure when he said, not one, not two, not three,....

But once he saw, that it might not be as easy as he thought, he lowered the bar, and now he is just okay with one title Cleveland.

Youthful arrogance. Once reality set in though, he got homesick.

I also guess he planned it for a long time. I am sure he felt nostalgic for Cleveland and on some level all the commentary allowed for a enticing picture where if he was in Cleveland everything would be great, just, etc. And perhaps in Miami it could seem unsatisfying even if he won.

It reminds me of when I left my small town a few hours north of Cleveland (in Michigan) to live abroad in a major city when I was young. When I left and visited in the summer in later years I would really see my home town in a great light. I remembered all the good things I used to have and did not anymore, and overlooked the new advantages of my new life. Then I eventually moved back and after less than half a year I had reverse nostalgia. I came to the realization that (for me) small towns suck, but when I was a kid I didn't really realize that and built up a bunch of naive reasons to cloud my judgment. There was limited diversity, less education, less activities to go out and do... a more "simple" life. (There was also an abundance of hollow pride in the area, for example, locals saying that they work the hardest or some such...something I noted was in the headline of the Cleveland paper, though attributed to Ohioans, of course).

It's fine if that is what you want and it makes you happy, but for me I wanted the external environment to expand my horizons and ofter a broader range of things to do. After that, I moved once again when I had the chance and never regretted it again.

An amusing possibility is after a while of being back in Ohio LeBron is like, "holy ****, what did I do?". I'm not rooting for anything to be malicious but that's what happened to me and it would be a bit funny after all the hype. If I was in charge of LeBron's decision I would have considered going to another major city before going back to a small town. I don't know how Miami is, never having been there, but it is definitely more cosmopolitan than a small midwestern town. The world is a big place, I feel like he limited himself from great opportunities.

He has the right to go wherever he wants though, but I'm not going to buy in to the narrative about it being a triumphant, heart warming story. It's just what he wanted. I hope he's happy but have a feeling sooner or later LeBron may again wish to be in a bigger city.

[Pure_Basketball]

I feel and believe this is a simple situation. As simple as it gets too.

LeBron ran to Riley, Bosh and Wade in order to (finally) win an NBA championship. In a way, he used the Miami Heat as a franchise in order to satisfy his own desires.

After LeBron finally won an NBA championship (x2), there was nothing else for him to prove in Miami. Or anywhere else for that matter (outside of Cleveland).

He wanted to return home. Where he's truly the King. Which is within the city of Cleveland. Which is less than 40 minutes away from Akron.

LeBron James has accomplished everything an NBA player could have ever accomplished. There's only one thing he's yet to accomplish.

He's won NBA Championship(s).
He's won MVP's.
He's won Final's MVP's.
He's won Olympic Gold Medals.
He's made All-Star teams.
He's made All-NBA 1st Teams.
He's made All-NBA Defense 1st Teams.
Won the Rookie of the Year award.
He's been an NBA scoring champion.
Ohio Mr. Basketball.
McDonald's All-American Game MVP.
Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year.
Sporting News Athlete of the Year.
USA Male Basketball Athlete of the Year.

His NBA career is already complete. There was nothing more the Miami Heat could offer LeBron James moving forward. He's seen it and done it all. Except one thing; Which is win a Championship for his HOME of Cleveland.

The city of Cleveland, regardless of sport, hasn't won a single championship in over 50 years. LeBron James will be and is determined to change that. LeBron brings a freaking championship to the city of CLEVELAND? And he'll reach the type of Icon/Legend status in which he could have never reached in Miami. Not one. Not two. Not three. Not four. Not five. Not six. etc. LeBron could have won 7 rings in Miami, and it still wouldn't compare to winning ONE RING in CLEVELAND.

LeBron James is (and was) returning home and there's nothing the Heat franchise could've done differently. It was his fait along with his destiny.

I'm happy to be used for two titles and 4 straight nba finals.

[ccameron]

This is going to be written, not in paragraphs, but in short bullet style points as I fire off the events throughout the timeline and why I think LeBron left Miami. I believe I have a very good nose for this sort of stuff, and I noticed these clues back then, and mentioned it to friends and family, but nobody thought it was a big deal.

I believe the reason LeBron James left Miami, is because he did not feel the "family" atmosphere that he was sold in 2010. I am not saying that the Heat treated him poorly. I am simply saying, that there is Real World and then there is LeBron World. Pat may have thought everything was fine, but that's for Real World. You have to think in terms of LeBron.

I will list the clues I remember, that point directly to this decision by LeBron James to leave Miami :

- During the 2011 Eastern Conference Semi-Finals between Miami and Boston, the Heat defeated the Celtics in 5 games I believe it was. During the seconds after the timer expired and the series was over, Dwyane Wade leaped towards the basketball and fell backwards into the stands where the fans are. The cameras caught this moment. He fell to the floor hard. I don't know how many of you remember this. LeBron then helped Wade up off the ground, and made a comment to the reporters in his interview about the situation : "We have to protect the Franchise". PAUSE. That right there. I have the video of it on my computer. LeBron calling Wade the Franchise. When I heard it, I immediately knew there was something there. Pat Riley was treating Wade like the centerpiece, like the beloved son, and LeBron James was not being given that same love. The rules were not being bent for LeBron like they were for Wade. One of the Big 3 was being treated differently. LeBron obviously felt this, and began to be open about it in joking fashion - but there was something deeper there. LeBron wants to feel like he's the franchise too.

- In the next round, after the 2011 Eastern Conference Finals vs the Chicago Bulls, during the ECF Trophy presentation, the Heat were accepting the trophy. LeBron James was all the way in the back of the crowd. Literally, all the way in the back of every Heat player. While Dwyane Wade was smiling, standing next to Pat Riley front and center, in front of the cameras. The Heat received the trophy, and Wade was the team Ambassador. Pat Riley didn't even look around for LeBron. When I saw that, I remember calling into my local radio station with Zaslow and mentioning it. I thought Pat should have stopped, looked around, and made a point of grabbing Chris Bosh and LeBron James to stand there too. I would even go as far as saying that LeBron may have intentionally stood all the way in the back to see if Pat Riley would even care. You might think this is a silly point. But I don't. Because this is not Real World. This is LeBron World. And in LeBron World, you better show him a lot of love and attention. LeBron was hurt. He was sold this "Family" atmosphere in 2010, and here you are. Watching Pat Riley love Dwyane, and not you. You're not the coddled Franchise player anymore like you were in Cleveland. They (Pat and the Heat) don't even care that LeBron James is nowhere to be found during the awards.

- You see, I think 2010-2011 was a shock to LeBron. And then after that, LeBron just accepted it and was counting down the days until he leaves Miami. He was sold a bill of goods but he wasn't feeling the Family. Wade is, but not him.

- This carried over into the 2013-2014 season. Dwyane Wade was on a maintenance program. Taking many games off, while LeBron was out there trying to win. LeBron openly commented on this situation during the season, several times. Sometimes he seemed annoyed about it. Frustration. LeBron may have thought that the Heat are running him into the ground and they don't care about his body, but Wade? Let's coddle him and rest him. The Heat would not even inform LeBron of when Wade was going to be sitting sometimes. This would obviously feed into LeBron's mind. Wade is the Franchise. I am not. This is not my home. This is not my family.

- So, LeBron feels he just wants to go Home. LeBron James might think - "At least there, I was the center of Cleveland's world. The Cavaliers will bend over backwards for me. Pat wouldn't. The Cavaliers would make me feel better. I won't feel like I'm being used. Whatever I want, I will get there."

This decision was not a basketball one. If the Miami Heat had 3-peated, LeBron James would still go to the Cavaliers. This was about how he felt, his happiness, feeling like Home. The Heat did not make him feel that way, and there was a bit of disappointment with how Wade was treated compared to him.

I don't want to blame Pat. I love Pat. But he had a hand in this, not because Pat did something wrong - but because Pat Riley failed to understand how to treat someone that has been the center of the sports world's attention since he was 17 years old.

I agree that Lebron never felt like this was "his" team or "his city" in the way that Wade does, but those moments from 2011 I think have nothing to do with his decision. I think in the aftermath of the decision he just kind of regretted how he left his home team that he promised a championship to.

It was very simple: Coming to Miami and winning 2 chips with Wade and Bosh elevated his status to one of the greatest players ever. But he realized even if he won another championship with Miami, and played at this level for a few more years, that wouldn't elevate him much further. Now winning a championship with Cleveland, with the possibility of actually delivering on a earlier promise, but with less pressure, and the comforts of home, his image restored, and yes, being the franchise -- you can see why he wanted to go back. Less pressure, but if he wins in Cleveland, a lot more upside for him.

Miami was a stepping stone, but he probably didn't see it this way in 2011. He was always a little ambivalent about his situation, and I think he increasingly thought he should return.

I don't have any ill feelings about his move. It was great to have him here for four years.

But Wade County.

[JonFromVA]

The main reason he left Miami is he misses Akron, wants to live in Akron, and wants to raise his family in Akron.

He also wants to win NBA championships, but as the weight of his decisions to pursue championships started crashing down around him in 2010, and it appeared like the run might just be over in 2014 ... it became a lot easier to focus on the fact that he misses being home and misses being the King of Ohio.

There were clues going back to 2010.

[dolphinatik]

what you're missing tho ( and im not a Lebron fanboy) is that Lebron could have gone to any team and made them immediate favorites to win a title. It is what it is, he is gone, we dont owe him anything he doesnt owe us anything.

[DivineFury]

what you're missing tho ( and im not a Lebron fanboy) is that Lebron could have gone to any team and made them immediate favorites to win a title. It is what it is, he is gone, we dont owe him anything he doesnt owe us anything.

My exact thoughts, lets just move on!

[dcee101]

My thoughts are this:

How would you feel if you assembled one of the greatest rosters in NBA history and the home crowd showed up late, left early and acted like they didn't care? I don't care what anyone says, but the bandwagon lovers and uppity lower bowl crowd that didn't know or care about basketball must have left a sour taste in his mouth.

Couple that with the constant mockery that the big three endured from all angles made it a smarter decision for him to leave. He damn well knew that by going back to Cleveland he would own all of Ohio and that Cleveland fans would go beserk every home game for him. Add the media now loving him again and it was a no brainer.

On a side note I'm glad he is gone so I can back to watching basketball, not shaking my head at how pathetic the lower bowl is in Miami.

[Grumpy Heat Fan]

In light of more and more news coming out.......

I wanted to bump this thread. I think I nailed it. We all love Pat Riley.... but he screwed up. He gave way too favoritism to Wade, and didn't at least equal it with giving it to James. He was counting down the days to go back to CLE, where he could be Team Captain, Center of the Team, coddled as the favorite one.......

[carbine23]

Are we not over this ****?

[Shewasfly]

I can't believe people believe there was favoritism to Wade while LeBron was here whatsoever. It literally boggles my mind. After 2011 theres no argument that anyone on the team was treated even on the same plane as LeBron. Every thing went through him. Everyone had to talk him up as the person doing everything to make the team go. Everyone had to support his MVP campaigns and his constant stat padding efforts. The team was his. Heat fans in particular 100% turned on Wade after 2011 so all of this about him being exalted above LeBron is complete crap to me.

[TRG]

Strong case of hindsight bias in this thread.

[76ciology]

I think it all started when things didn't seem as easy as they planned it in 2010 and Wade's body seems to deteriorate.

When Cavs was in a free fall during Jamison/Mo Will era in Cavs, LBJ decides to leave. I believe that he saw a similar situation with the Heat. And going back to Cavs, with a significantly retooled roster, was his option.

[DayofMourning]

I think it all started when things didn't seem as easy as they planned it in 2010 and Wade's body seems to deteriorate.

When Cavs was in a free fall during Jamison/Mo Will era in Cavs, LBJ decides to leave. I believe that he saw a similar situation with the Heat. And going back to Cavs, with a significantly retooled roster, was his option.

Lebron took advantage and went to a team with younger stars. Wade is better than any player he's every going to play with, but his injuries and time off during the season put a big load on Lebron. I'm not convinced that the youth of Cleveland can produce simlar results, but it will be entertaining to say the least. Its sad that Wade's injury issues keep presenting themselves, because he is one of the best SGs to ever play and a true team player. I can't wait for this season to play out. Its going to be good.

[IfPatWasPrez]

How Lebron felt and was treated in 2011 was no secret ... In his interview w I think Ahmad rashad Lebron said it himself ..." yo In 2011 it was still wades team ." After losing to duh mavs i was mad depressed couldnt even eat coco pebbles ." "my boy dwade called me up said get that hairline tight lets go to tha bahamas an have a man to man talk . Quit hiding under your covers from the haters ." Wade said to Lebron "dont worry bruh youll never be as good lookin as me BUT in order for this to work THIS HAS TO BE YO TEAM " ... It worked We went on to win back to back championships ......

[thinktellectual]

Not only were there clues going back to 2011, but it was mentioned in the prophecy, and there are clues about it in the Bible, Quran and Torah themselves.

[kyphi]

do not forget Nostradamus