Cleveland Cavaliers Fans Would be Crazy to Forgive LeBron James if He Returns

By Connor Muldowney @Connormuldowney on July 11, 2014

On that July evening in 2010, LeBron James sat down in front of ESPN cameras and millions of hoping Cleveland Cavaliers fans and announced his much-anticipated decision. The event became known as “The Decision” and Cavs fans will forever remember when the King turned his back on the castle.

Sure, the teams that he had in Cleveland were not exactly the most dominant, but they put together pretty solid seasons in LeBron’s last two years, winning 61 games and 66 games, respectively. The King wanted to explore greener pastures with Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade in South Beach with the Miami Heat.

In his hour-long decision show, he even stated that Miami gave him the best chance to win now and win in the long run.

His choice proved to be somewhat correct as he joined the team in 2010 and made it to the 2011 NBA Finals that season before losing to the Dallas Mavericks 4-2.

Many believed that could be a sign of things to come, but the Heat went on to win the next two NBA titles and make it to a fourth straight NBA Finals in 2014 before losing to the veteran San Antonio Spurs.

Meanwhile, the Cavaliers failed to make the playoffs in the four post-LeBron seasons and won no more than  33 games in a campaign during that span. In fact, the Cavs won under 30 games three times — including a 19-win season in 2010-11 — and over 30 games just once.

Cleveland became a staple in the annual NBA Lottery and even accrued the top pick multiple times.

It’s safe to say LeBron got the better end of the decision and he seemed to forget about the city that he called home for nearly a decade.

After the decision, the city also turned its back on LeBron, burning his jerseys publicly and calling him a sellout, even coming up with such nicknames as LeQuit and LeBackstabber. Cleveland fans began to hate the man they once saw as a hero. Even owner Dan Gilbert wrote a public letter, denouncing the King and promising his demise.

And now it seems like all that is going to change once again.

LeBron is a free agent and his decision is a familiar one — down to the Heat and the Cavaliers. Miami might have better pieces right now if he returns, but the Cavaliers are willing to do whatever LeBron wants in order to get him back — even trade for coveted big man Kevin Love.

And the city of Cleveland is starting to fall in love again.

Come on, Cleveland fans, you’re better than this. This guy went on national television and told the world that he wasn’t in love with you anymore and wanted to see other people. He basically slapped you in the face and rubbed it in every time he won a title. He left when the going got rough, despite multiple 60-win seasons.

This guy could have earned titles in Cleveland with a few more years instead of having them basically handed to him with two other superstars in Miami.

So now that Kevin Love is a possibility and Kyrie Irving is one of the best point guards in the NBA, he wants back?

You need to be strong, Cleveland fans, and don’t forgive him that easily. He’s like a cheating partner, he has to earn your trust back slowly — and maybe with a title or two.

Connor Muldowney is a writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @Connormuldowney, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google. You can also reach him at [email protected].