"A 60-second tribute video honoring LeBron James has become routine over the past eight years whenever he returns to Cleveland, the city where his NBA journey began. But Wednesday night at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse was different and it felt that way long before James's Los Angeles Lakers fell, 129-99 to the Cavaliers in a nationally televised game. For the first time, James struggled to contain his emotions."
"As his name was announced during pregame introductions, the crowd rose in a thunderous standing ovation that lingered longer than usual. Minutes later, during the game's first break, the tribute video played on the jumbo screen hanging above the court. James remained seated on the Lakers' bench, watching intently along with more than 20,000 fans who understood they were witnessing something more than a routine return."
"The video featured a montage of historic moments during James's Cavaliers career, highlighted by his unforgettable performance in Game 5 of the 2007 Eastern Conference Finals when he scored 25 consecutive points, capped by a game-winning layup against the Detroit Pistons. It was the night that first cemented James not only as a superstar, but as Cleveland's own. Several times, James lowered his head and wiped away tears with the inside of his jersey."
A customary 60-second tribute to LeBron James in Cleveland took on heightened emotion as fans delivered a prolonged standing ovation and James visibly struggled to contain tears. The jumbo-screen montage highlighted historic Cavaliers moments, notably Game 5 of the 2007 Eastern Conference Finals when James scored 25 consecutive points and hit a game-winning layup. More than 20,000 fans watched while James sat on the Lakers' bench, occasionally wiping his face and dabbing his eyes. The emotional response reflected reflection on his legacy and the 2016 championship banner, overshadowing the game's final statistics.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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