LeBron James Will Return to Play for Cleveland Cavaliers

James made the announcement in a touching letter published on Sports Illustrated's website, saying:

Before anyone ever cared where I would play basketball, I was a kid from Northeast Ohio. It’s where I walked. It’s where I ran. It’s where I cried. It’s where I bled. It holds a special place in my heart. ... I always believed that I’d return to Cleveland and finish my career there. I just didn’t know when. ... In Northeast Ohio, nothing is given. Everything is earned. You work for what you have. I’m ready to accept the challenge. I’m coming home.

Cleveland's roster now looks pretty stacked, giving them a good shot at winning the Eastern Conference next year, and word is that Minnesota star Kevin Love may on his way to Ohio next.

Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert, who famously lashed out at James when he left for Miami in 2010, immediately sent out a tweet welcoming him home: