LeBron James on Going Home for the NBA All-Star Game: “No Disrespect to Cleveland. But, When You’re From Akron, You’re Not From Cleveland”

LeBron James is set to play in his 18th straight All-Star game as he heads in as the team captain. Many fans expect him to show out as he heads back to the place where it all began, Cleveland. The King won the city a championship and put the Cavaliers on the map. However, in a recent interview, LeBron explains how he is a kid from Akron, and coming back to Cleveland isn’t a homecoming for him.

James was one of the most famous high school basketball players. The star came out from the town of Akron, Ohio, where he made his basketball dream into a reality. While the town does reside in Cleveland, Akron is rather looked down upon. James had to fight through struggle and pain to get to where he is today. But since the birth of the King, things have changed.

He took up various initiatives to make sure his town blossoms and grows into a hub. Moreover, every basketball court has some amount of LeBron written over it.

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LeBron James not coming back home

Back in 2003, the NBA saw one of its best players enter the draft. LeBron came in straight out of St. Vincent St. Mary high school in Akron and went as the first overall pick. His one team, the Cleveland Cavaliers took him in and he changed things in a flash. He took the organization from a lottery team to a competing side in a matter of a few years. However, things took a bad turn when he left them for the Heat to pursue a championship dream.

Since then, the city of Cleveland gave up on James. But the King never gave up on his city. He came back and fulfilled his promise to Cleveland by winning a championship for them. After winning the respect back he moved on in his journey and joined the Lakers. But despite being from Cleveland, he feels like a person who belongs to the town of Akron rather than the city.

LeBron said: “People always say, ‘You’re going back home.’ But I tell people all the time, ‘I’m not from Cleveland.’ There’s no disrespect to Cleveland. But, when you’re from Akron, you’re not from Cleveland, this is where I’m from.”

James spoke about how no one really cares much for the town of Akron except its own people. Hence, he holds himself true to the town and has left his legacy all over the streets of Akron. While the King did repay his city, he feels a different attachment to his hometown. Living up to the name ‘A Kid From Akron’, LeBron James does not see his 18th All-Star as a homecoming.

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What do you think of James’ take? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.