MIAMI – LeBron James doesn't have any apprehension for this homecoming.
There's nothing to fear, no real worries about his safety, unlike what awaited him the last time he had one of these return games. Then again, this might not even classify as a homecoming — because, it turns out, Miami was never truly his home, just a place he called home for four years while playing with the Heat.
He came. He won. He left.
On Thursday, James returns to face the Heat, the team that turned him from a superstar to a two-time NBA champion superstar. And as he and the Cleveland Cavaliers prepare for what certainly will be an emotional Christmas visit, James expects to be flooded with positive vibes.
"To say I haven't thought about going back, I would be lying," James said. "It's going to be great to be back in that building around those unbelievable fans, and the memories will definitely come back, being a part of the organization for four years."
The Heat insists that it is looking forward to the reunion.
It goes without saying that some in the organization were angry when James left this past summer, in large part because of how long it took him to tell Miami that he would not be returning. But the building has hardly been scrubbed of reminders: Heat coach Erik Spoelstra still has photos of James in his office, and huge prints of some of his most memorable moments still adorn the walls leading from the Miami locker room.
James remains in contact with some Heat players, and his close friendship with Dwyane Wade continues.
