LeBron James: Lakers Star Receives Standing Ovation in His Return to Cleveland Cavaliers

LeBron James: Lakers Star Receives Standing Ovation in His Return to Cleveland Cavaliers

Edwin Kiplagat
updated at February 13, 2024 at 11:54 AM
  • LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers walked away with a win at Cleveland
  • Before they secured the victory, James got a raucous ovation from Cavaliers fans
  • The 38-year-old famously led them to their only NBA title in 2016

Cleveland Cavaliers fans were excited to see LeBron James, who has returned as an opposing player many times since leaving them for the Miami Heat and the Los Angeles Lakers.

Before the game, James received loud cheers from the crowd and then proceeded to help the Lakers beat the Cavs 121-115 to improve to 10-7 this season.

LeBron James, Lakers, Cleveland Cavaliers, NBA
LeBron James has started his 21st NBA season well. Photo by Jason Miller.
Source: Getty Images

James was drafted by the Cavaliers in 2003, but he left in 2010 to join the Miami Heat. In James' first game in Cleveland as a member of the Miami Heat in December 2010, he was booed every time he touched the ball.

Things have changed since then. He returned, led them to the 2016 NBA title and left. The championship remains the only one the Cavs have won in their history.

James is currently playing in his 21st NBA season and has broken many NBA records and is considered the GOAT.

James receives standing ovation

Moments before tip-off, fans loudly cheered James, who gladly returned the favour by applauding every corner of the arena.

James finished with 22 points on 8-of-23 shooting, including 1-of-9 from deep. James spoke about his return after the game.

"It's just special," James said. "It's very special to be a kid from Akron. I grew up 30 miles south of here and to be able to be drafted here and spend my first seven years here and do some special things that the franchise had never seen. And when I was drafted, I said I wanted to light this place up like Vegas. So I feel like I did a decent job of doing that when I was here for my 11 years," via ESPN.

James' jersey will one day be hanging in the rafters when it's all said and done.

James' greatest games in Year 21

Sports Brief recently reported on the James' greatest games in Year 21 of his NBA career.

He scored a season-high 37 points in the Lakers' 105-104 win over the Houston Rockets.

James also recorded a triple-double this season, scoring 28 in the game against the Kings.

Authors
Edwin Kiplagat photo
Edwin Kiplagat
Edwin Kiplagat has five years of experience in journalism working as a Sports Editor at Africa Insight Communications and ESPN. Edwin Kiplagat is a Bachelor's Degree holder in journalism from the Multimedia University of Kenya.
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