NBA
The King returns: LeBron James comes back to Cleveland with the Lakers
Matt Eppers
USA TODAY Sports
![After a second stint with the Cavaliers that included an NBA championship, LeBron James returned to Cleveland for the first time as a member of the Lakers.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2018/11/22/USAT/09b04594-112a-4e55-8580-7da5ea9346e3-LeBron9.jpg?crop=3373,2631,x104,y56&width=660&height=515&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
After a second stint with the Cavaliers that included an NBA championship, LeBron James returned to Cleveland for the first time as a member of the Lakers.
Jason Miller, Getty Images![All eyes were on James from the moment he took the court.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2018/11/22/USAT/a3f3fd2b-77d3-41ea-867f-f1e9ebc9eaa6-LeBron12.jpg?crop=5950,4593,x0,y911&width=660&height=510&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
All eyes were on James from the moment he took the court.
David Richard, USA TODAY Sports![James throws down a two-handed slam during the second half.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2018/11/22/USAT/b868b4ac-4ab4-43b7-bfdf-9ea63ebc48bd-LeBron14.jpg?crop=2428,2055,x600,y89&width=660&height=559&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
James throws down a two-handed slam during the second half.
David Richard, USA TODAY Sports![James tries to drive against Cavaliers defender David Nwaba during the first half.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2018/11/22/USAT/e43c35cb-8352-4b0a-a4c4-aab7c0839ecb-LeBron7.jpg?crop=3454,2534,x253,y46&width=660&height=485&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
James tries to drive against Cavaliers defender David Nwaba during the first half.
David Richard, USA TODAY Sports![The fans showed their appreciation.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2018/11/22/USAT/c5d326a0-7b7d-4a6a-9798-bea5ea4ff34b-LeBron11.jpg?crop=1950,2314,x0,y52&width=557&height=660&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
The fans showed their appreciation.
Tony Dejak, AP![James greets Jordan Clarkson after the game.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2018/11/22/USAT/e6cc44c4-cbca-4434-8ff1-0ed329f6370c-LeBron13.jpg?crop=2441,1943,x170,y105&width=660&height=526&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
James greets Jordan Clarkson after the game.
David Richard, USA TODAY Sports![James speaks with ESPN on the floor after the Lakers rallied for a 109-105 win.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2018/11/22/USAT/68299d7e-e500-4df9-9044-bfb01bce9f9f-LeBron16.jpg?crop=3404,2298,x1124,y109&width=660&height=446&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
James speaks with ESPN on the floor after the Lakers rallied for a 109-105 win.
Jason Miller, Getty Images![James greets Tristan Thompson after the game.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2018/11/22/USAT/7c4d6c88-02cf-4b9f-a76e-41e6d83e6191-LeBron15.jpg?crop=1999,1605,x131,y86&width=660&height=530&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
James greets Tristan Thompson after the game.
David Richard, USA TODAY Sports![James directs the Lakers during the first half.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2018/11/22/USAT/e94bb82b-d80b-4f1c-b18a-c9fa313dc1ff-LeBron8.jpg?width=660&height=454&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
James directs the Lakers during the first half.
David Richard, USA TODAY Sports![James paid tribute to his St. Vincent-St. Mary High School team on his shoes.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2018/11/22/USAT/26a0fc14-e05f-44a2-8004-587f752f1f62-LeBron17.jpg?crop=3448,2470,x684,y285&width=660&height=473&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
James paid tribute to his St. Vincent-St. Mary High School team on his shoes.
Jason Miller, Getty Images![James tries to drive against Cavaliers defender David Nwaba during the first half.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2018/11/22/USAT/c0153446-deda-46e2-a36f-7c8d25b29a67-LeBron6.jpg?crop=3473,2518,x816,y163&width=660&height=479&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
James tries to drive against Cavaliers defender David Nwaba during the first half.
David Richard, USA TODAY Sports![James shraes a moment with Cavaliers coach Larry Drew before the game.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2018/11/22/USAT/31738882-39da-4b15-ad4b-d24e477d962f-LeBron10.jpg?crop=2926,2423,x282,y0&width=660&height=547&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
James shraes a moment with Cavaliers coach Larry Drew before the game.
Jason Miller, Getty Images![James takes the floor for warm-ups.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2018/11/22/USAT/69c15314-cefd-4a33-9906-fb5264a6f792-LeBron4.jpg?crop=3139,2353,x1389,y523&width=660&height=495&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
James takes the floor for warm-ups.
Jason Miller, Getty Images![James warms up prior to the game.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2018/11/22/USAT/a28692f0-a963-4667-9010-5f62e57d53e8-LeBron3.jpg?crop=4493,3242,x470,y470&width=660&height=477&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
James warms up prior to the game.
Jason Miller, Getty Images![James enters Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2018/11/22/USAT/7b160edd-7790-4c99-ac90-28ac0109d324-LeBron1.jpg?crop=1901,2632,x114,y34&width=477&height=660&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
James enters Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland.
Tony Dejak, AP![James walks through Quicken Loans Arena before the game.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2018/11/22/USAT/e5a5ce4d-3311-492e-a3b8-35bd6e099de3-LeBron2.jpg?crop=3980,2888,x659,y73&width=660&height=479&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
James walks through Quicken Loans Arena before the game.
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