LeBron James Signs Back Up with the Cleveland Cavaliers

In an event sure to send ripples through the basketball world, LeBron James has announced that he is returning to the Cleveland Cavaliers, who drafted him in 2003, after four years playing for the Miami Heat.

"I always believed that I’d return to Cleveland and finish my career there," LeBron told Sports Illustrated in an interview published today on their site. "I looked at other teams, but I wasn’t going to leave Miami for anywhere except Cleveland. The more time passed, the more it felt right. This is what makes me happy."

LeBron spoke candidly about his relationship with Cleveland and its fans. "I sometimes feel like I’m their son," he said. "Their passion can be overwhelming. But it drives me. I want to give them hope when I can. I want to inspire them when I can. My relationship with Northeast Ohio is bigger than basketball. I didn’t realize that four years ago. I do now."

What will this mean for basketball fans in Miami, or for the Cavaliers' and Heat's 2014-2015 seasons? Only time will tell.