The Cleveland Cavaliers kick off training camp tomorrow (Saturday) and prodigal son LeBron James says he's happy to dig into the work ahead.
Kabir Bhatia of member station WKSU in Kent reports.
The four-time MVP—sporting his old number 23 – says he plans to lead the team by example, by voice and by presence, but it won’t happen overnight.
“We can’t try to play November and get to June right now. We have to go November-to-December and the rest of the calendar year, just to even have a chance.”
The four-time MVP jokingly told reporters that the decision to return to Northeast Ohio was made by his sons.
“I was like, ‘what do you think about Daddy going back home to play?’ They were like, ‘Home? You mean, Cleveland?’ I was like, ‘yeah.’ ‘OK, [do] you get to play with Kyrie Irving?’ I was like, ‘yeah.’ OK, you can do it.’”
James was also asked about his weight loss over the summer, which he says was done more as a mental challenge, and not to prepare for the NBA season. The Cavs went 33-49 last season, while LeBron led the Miami Heat to their fourth straight NBA Finals.
He says having his Cleveland Cavaliers jersey back on feels right. The Akron native played for the Cavs from 2003-2010 before leaving for a stint with the Miami Heat, where he won two NBA championships in four years.