In the end, there were three strikes against Cleveland.
Brian Windhorst of ESPN revealed why LeBron James didn't return to the Cleveland Cavaliers this summer.
LeBron, 41, is signing a two-year, $8 million contract with the Philadelphia 76ers.
"Some will say James Harden's role as Cleveland's point guard affected James' decision, but there is more nuance than that," Windhorst wrote. "It's not that the Cavs having Harden was a factor, sources said, but rather who the Cavs did not have. To get Harden from the LA Clippers in February, the Cavs traded Darius Garland, a Klutch-repped point guard with whom James has had a yearslong relationship.
"In the end, there were three strikes against Cleveland: Family not being an issue in LeBron's choice, the front office not making a deal for Brown and the Cavs' roster not featuring Garland. To say it was one of these factors more than the other might be missing the big picture."
Cleveland thought LeBron would come home to play with Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen.
Instead, LeBron is now teammates with Joel Embiid, Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe in Philly.
It's too bad we won't get to see LeBron play for Cleveland again. The King said the 76ers will be his last stop in the NBA.
"This is my last decision," LeBron wrote on social media. "I’m not going for money. I’m not going for family. What am I really playing for at this point? I still want to sacrifice. I still want to work. I still want to grind. I still want to compete, to win and to have a chance at the feeling of winning another championship.
“I believe I can help make the Philadelphia 76ers a championship team and I am so excited to energize a new fan base and start this incredible journey one last time. Thank you LA. Miami I’ll forever love and Northeast Ohio will always home!”
In two stints (2003-10, 2014-18) with the Cavaliers, LeBron averaged 27.2 points, 7.3 rebounds, 7.3 assists, 1.6 steals and 0.8 blocks per game. He won two MVPs and one Finals MVP and made 10 All-Star and 10 All-NBA teams.
LeBron led the Cavaliers to the 2016 championship against the 73-9 Golden State Warriors. The 2015-16 Cleveland squad is the only team in NBA history to erase a 3-1 series deficit in the NBA Finals.
The Cavaliers will now try to sign Jonathan Kuminga or Mario Hezonja after not getting LeBron.
