LeBron James signed a contract to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers during the offseason, announcing his decision via a personal letter to fans on SI.com.
The contract, however, is only for two years, with an opt-out clause coming after the first season. That left Cavaliers fans, who were initially ecstatic to hear that The King was coming home, a bit uneasy. They felt like he could leave again, as he famously did four years ago.
James alleviated those worries on Friday, saying he’s not planning on leaving the Cavs any time soon.
“My No. 1 goal is to win a championship here; it’d be the greatest achievement in my life,” James said before his annual charity event, via ESPN’s Brian Windhorst. “I don’t plan on going nowhere. I don’t have the energy to do it again.”
James signed the two-year deal with Cleveland for $42 million with the belief that changes to the NBA salary cap could allow him to significantly increase his salary. The salary cap and max-contract level could increase in a big way after new television deals are signed in 2016.
“At the end of the day, I’m a businessman as well,” James said. “I know what is going on in the league.”
James added that he’s excited to be playing with the current team in place in Cleveland. He even acknowledged the possibility of adding Kevin Love, which is reportedly all but finalized.
“Even with the veterans we’ve brought in, even if we’re able to acquire Kevin Love two weeks from now, it’s still going to be a process,” James said. “I know that firsthand. It was a process when I was in Cleveland. It was a process in Miami. It’s going to be a challenge.”
It looks like Cavs fans can sleep soundly at night, and dream of winning a title in Cleveland.
