LeBron James’ free agency in 2014 was highly anticipated. He was widely regarded as the best player in the NBA and had won two championships with the Miami Heat in 2012 and 2013.
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James had the option to opt out of his contract with the Heat after the 2013-2014 season, and many speculated that he would choose to do so.
In the weeks leading up to free agency, rumors swirled about where James might end up. Some speculated that he would return to his hometown team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, while others suggested he might join the Rockets or the Lakers.
Despite the speculation, James remained tight-lipped about his plans, stating that he would take his time to make a decision. He was obviously aggressively wooed by Heat President Pat Riley, but he rebuffed any temptations to make public statements.
However, Savannah James may have thrown a spanner in the works of him keeping his free agency plans under wraps.
Savannah James inadvertently hinted at LeBron James’ Cleveland return on Instagram
About a week after the Spurs had outlasted LeBron James and Miami Heat 4-1 in the NBA Finals, James had opted out of the final 2 years of his contract with Miami. They were said to have the best chance of re-signing James, but Cleveland had become a late factor.
Ultimately, when Savannah made an Instagram post about returning to ‘home sweet home’ in Akron, it landed the cat among the pigeons. People took it as a sign that LeBron James would eventually make a comeback to the Cavs.
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LeBron did sign with Cleveland after all
Despite this post and other indications, Pat Riley later stated that he went all out in his attempts to recruit James. He pulled off another powerful presentation with some of his silverware, but his efforts were in vain.
On July 11, 2014, James announced his decision to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers in an essay published on Sports Illustrated’s website. In the essay, James cited his love for Northeast Ohio and his desire to bring a championship to Cleveland as the reasons for his return.
The announcement was met with widespread excitement from Cleveland fans, who had long hoped for James to return to the team that drafted him in 2003.
James’ return to Cleveland sparked a new era of basketball in the city, as he led the team to four consecutive NBA Finals appearances from 2015 to 2018, including a championship in 2016.
His decision to return to Cleveland also cemented his legacy as one of the greatest players in NBA history, and his influence on the league continues to be felt today.
