Revisiting LeBron James' 'Decision' and Cavs Fans' Revolt

LeBron James' reputation in Cleveland was tarnished (for the time being, of course) on a fateful July day in 2010. The Cleveland Cavaliers star came up with the terrible idea to construct a whole television show around his free agency decision that summer.

It was July 8, 2010 and James got on ESPN with Jim Gray in a special known only as The Decision. NBA fans around the world tuned in and those in Cleveland assumed he was making the spectacle to announce his return home to chase a title. The words "I'm going to take my talents to South Beach" ruined that illusion in a matter of seconds.

James was set to join the Miami Heat and the fallout in Cleveland was wild. Gasps were heard around Northeast Ohio, fans were burning jerseys in the streets, and Cavs owner Dan Gilbert had a total meltdown. He released an infamous letter in comic sans font that declared his team would win a title before the cowardly James and the Heat. That obviously was not the case.

James followed up the move with a huge party in Miami the following day where he stated the Heat would win "not one, not two, not three," titles, and so on. The NBA living legend formed one of the most dominant "Big Threes" in modern times and took the Heat to four consecutive NBA Finals, winning two. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers sputtered along aimlessly until James announced his return in 2014.

Had James not returned to lead Cleveland to its first title in decades in 2016, there's no telling if Cavs fans would've ever gotten over the sheer humiliation of the televised betrayal that was 'The Decision'.