LeBron James to Return to Cleveland Next Season

The NBA's Eastern Conference will look quite different next year as their will probably be a new favorite as to who will come out of that side of the NBA.  All this is due to the fact that LeBron James has stated that he will sign with his home town team in the Cleveland Cavaliers, not the Miami Heat.

"My relationship with Northeast Ohio is bigger than basketball," James told SI.com in a first-person essay. "I didn't realize that four years ago. I do now."  With this new beginning, it brings to a close the era of the "Big 3", as it pertains to James, Chris Bosh, and Dewayne Wade.  In his four years in Miami, they made four straight NBA Finals appearances with two rings to show for his efforts  But after the disappointing showing that the Heat had in this year's finals loss to San Antonio, it was obvious that some changes needed to be made if LeBron wanted to continue to want to compete for championships.

With that being said, James will now return home to try and deliver the championship that he could not bring to Cleveland in his first seven years in the league.  James knows this will not be an easy or short task as he stated in his interview with Sports Illustrated, "I’m not promising a championship.  I know how hard that is to deliver.  We’re not ready right now.  No way.  Of course, I want to win next year, but I’m realistic.  It will be a long process, much longer than it was in 2010.  My patience will get tested.  I know that. I’m going into a situation with a young team and a new coach. I will be the old head.  But I get a thrill out of bringing a group together and helping them reach a place they didn’t know they could go.  I see myself as a mentor now and I’m excited to lead some of these talented young guys."