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SPORTS Thursday 28 June 2018

LeBron's home loyalty could push him to re-sign with Cavs

By TOM WITHERS doesn't seem to be a slam
AP Sports Writer dunk any longer.
CLEVELAND (AP) — LeB- By Friday, James is expect-
ron James sprung to his ed to make his first move
feet and screamed along and likely decline a $35.6
with thousands of delirious million contract option for
Cleveland fans. next season with the Cavs,
When Indians outfielder who are hoping their past
Rajai Davis connected off loyalties to the 33-year-
Chicago Cubs reliever Ar- old and his own sentimen-
oldis Chapman for a tying tal attachments — family,
home run in the eighth in- legacy — will keep him in
ning of Game 7 of the 2016 Cleveland.
World Series, James came Unlike his free-agency
unglued and reacted the forays in 2010 and 2014,
way he might after a mon- James will not meet with
strous dunk or back-break- prospective teams. He's let-
ing 3-pointer in the NBA Fi- ting agent Rich Paul and
nals. his other representatives
And while his fanatical re- handle the business side of
sponse said a lot about things as he vacations with
James and his allegiance family and makes up his
to the Indians, so did the mind.
tight, black T-shirt he wore Months ago, James' con-
on that unseasonably nection with the Cavs
warm November night. seemed broken, hopeless.
It said: "Cleveland Or No- Last summer's shocking
where." trade of All-Star Kyrie Irving,
As the sports world waits to the team's failed attempt
see where the three-time to integrate guard Isaiah
champion intends to play Thomas, a lack of playmak-
next season and beyond, ers, assorted injuries and In this April 29, 2018, file photo, Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James (23) drives against Indiana
there remains the real pos- coach Tyronn Lue's medi- Pacers' Lance Stephenson (1) in the first half of Game 7 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff
sibility that James could cal issues contributed to series, Sunday, April 29, 2018, in Cleveland.
choose to stay in Cleve- James appearing ready to Associated Press
land, his hoops home for pull up stakes again and
11 of the past 15 years and pursue championships else- son, averaging 34 points, to have him here and what means to his franchise.
where this Northeast Ohio where. 9.1 rebounds and 9.0 as- he gave to this franchise The appeal for James to
son shares a unique and But a funny thing hap- sists while making a pair this year was nothing short stay home is different now
profound connection with pened on the way to the of buzzer-beating shots of remarkable."We don't than it was eight years ago
fans who have followed NBA Finals. and doing all he could in take that for granted at all." when he bolted for Miami.
him since his teens. James was boosted by a Finals sweep that could And it's why the Cavs He's more mature, with
James has other options: general manager Koby have been much different haven't surrendered from three children and a bur-
Los Angeles (salary-cap Altman's drastic-and-dra- if Cleveland had not lost the fight to keep him. geoning business empire.
space for another star, matic roster overhaul at Game 1 in overtime. Owner Dan Gilbert, whose His priorities, responsibilities
Magic Johnson in charge), the trading deadline, and "He gave his heart and soul, relationship with James re- and goals are different.
Houston (a chance to play despite a lack of cohesion die-hard energy, commit- mains tricky if not rocky, After the Warriors finished
on a super team with MVP and Vegas odds makers ment to this team, to this has displayed a willing- their Finals sweep of the
James Harden), Philadel- labeling the Cavs as un- franchise, to the city, to ness to spend whatever's Cavs, James revealed an
phia (young stars Ben Sim- derdogs, Cleveland ad- Northeast Ohio," Altman necessary to keep his injured right hand but an
mons and Joel Embiid), vanced to a fourth straight said last week after the team championship com- unchanged view of the
and maybe more. summer showdown with Cavs drafted Alabama petitive. That's unlikely to next phase of his career.
But, as has always been the Golden State, surviving guard Collin Sexton, who change whether James ex- "I will still continue to be in
case for James, home will two Game 7s and sweep- quickly raised some eye- tends his second stint with championship mode," he
pull at his heart. ing the top-seeded Toronto brows by choosing to wear Cleveland. said. "When I decide what
For the longest time, the Raptors along the way. No. 2, Irving's number for six In a recent Business Insider I'm going to do with my fu-
perception was that once Of course, James did all seasons with Cleveland. "It podcast, Gilbert referred ture, my family and the folks
James ended Cleveland's the heavy lifting. was an historical year and to James as a "partner," an that have been with me for
52-year title drought in He played in all 82 regular- probably one of the best acknowledgment by the the last 20 years will have a
2016, he would leave again season games and had postseason runs of all time. billionaire to what the su- say-so. Then it ultimately will
as soon as he could. That perhaps his best postsea- We're very, very fortunate perstar he once criticized come down to me."q