?It Kind of Took the Fire Out of the City?: LeBron James? Ex Teammate Revealed True Feelings About the King?s Infamous ?Decision?

Drafted in 2003 by the Cleveland Cavaliers, LeBron James bought joy and pride to the city of Cleveland for many years. For the first nine years of his career, LeBron helped the Cavs reach the playoffs five times in a row. Despite not winning championships, LeBron’s name echoed across Cleveland in every household.

However, things changed in 2010 as the King left his Kingdom in pursuit of greener pastures. Recently, one of James’ former Cavs teammates opened up on the impact of LeBron’s departure on the city of Cleveland.

By the end of the 2009-10 season, LeBron was a free agent. The NBA community assumed that he would end his career with the Cavs. However, LeBron James publicly declared that he has signed with the Miami Heat. Hearts across Cleveland broke. Daniel Gibson, LeBron’s former teammate, recently opened up about the event in an interview.

Daniel Gibson on LeBron James leaving the city of Cleveland

Gibson revealed that LeBron’s decision to leave caused chaos in the city. He mentioned that fans were on the streets expressing their anger and burning jerseys. The 6’2 guard compared the unfolding of this reaction to a riot.

Gibson claimed that the city was proud to be associated with LeBron James. So his decision hurt them deeply. The former NBA star added, “It kind of took the fire out of the city.”?

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However, Gibson understood this feeling of rage. He stated that the fans had the right to feel this way. According to the 2004 McDonald’s All-American, “He’s from there and you know I mean like we had a chance every year to win the championship.”?Gibson also highlighted the fact that no one could fill this “burned” spot.

The former Cavalier also pointed out the fact that the people of Cleveland are hard workers. Therefore, they couldn’t accept LeBron’s decision to leave his hometown for better opportunities.

For the following four years after LeBron’s exit, the Cavs barely made it past the 10th place on the Eastern Conference Table. However, glory was restored when LeBron returned in 2014. For many, LeBron’s return was surprising. Gibson pointed out, “I just feel like it was another opportunity for greatness and that’s what I think he is driven by.”?

LeBron’s return

LeBron fans would readily agree with Daniel Gibson. The King’s return established his greatness for many. With LeBron on the roster, from 2014 to 2018, the Cavs reached the NBA finals every season. In the 2015-16 season, LeBron and crew brought home the NBA Championship trophy after a prolonged wait. For LeBron, the 2016 title meant everything. In an ESPN series, he said, “That one (2016 title) right there made me the greatest player of all time.”

LeBron truly believed that this title win was special. It was the first time people really saw the emotion brewing? in him. With that said, LeBron James left Cleveland to join the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2018-19 season. But this time fans were more forgiving of the four-time NBA champion.

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?What do you think about the reaction of the fans when LeBron left for the first time? Let us know in the comments below.