LeBron James got a warm reception from Miami Heat fans in his return to South Beach on Christmas Day. There were far more cheers than boos when the Cavaliers forward was introduced pre-game, and the Heat even provided him with a video tribute at one point.
Dwyane Wade Says Fans Shouldn't Boo LeBron's Return
However, not every NBA player who leaves a city to sign elsewhere in free agency gets that treatment; most receive only a chorus of scorn and derision. James knows that situation firsthand from the time he originally left Cleveland for Miami four years ago, as he was subjected to cries of "traitor," and even had his jerseys burned.
After the game on Thursday James spoke about an underlying hypocrisy in NBA free agency.
"The question I have, which is kind of bothering me sometimes, is when a player decides to decide his own fate, there is always questions about it?" James said, via Yahoo! Sports. "And, 'Why did this guy do that, do that and do this?' When an organization decides to go elsewhere for a player, it's that they did what's best for the team. Let's figure that out some time."
LeBron Says the Cavs Are 'Not Too Good'
James' former teammate Dwyane Wade echoed LeBron's sentiments.
"It's tough in this league," Wade said. "When a player makes a decision, and however you make it, there is always backlash. But when an organization makes it, it's the right thing for an organization to do. And it's fine. Josh Smith just got cut. It was the right thing for the Pistons to do."
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