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AKRON, Ohio – LeBron James stood on a stage near one of the streets where he walked as a kid and looked at thousands of faces. While his 3-year-old daughter, Zhuri, was playing at his feet, James watched as his mother, Gloria, raised a flag in front of a school that may be her greatest triumph.
His incredible life.
Before leaving for Los Angeles, James gave a gift to his hometown
James, who completed his second stint in Cleveland earlier this month by signing with the Los Angeles Lakers, opened his school on Monday. , an annual learning center dedicated to some of the most challenged young people in the city – those who are like him.
For James, who remembered 82 days of school as a fourth grade student while he and his mother were "looking for stability" the opening culminated years of planning by his founding of family.
"That means everything," James told the Associated Press in an interview before the public event. "I think it's the greatest achievement for me because it's not just me: a championship is for a team, for an organization and a city, but these kids, generation after generation, and for these children, so "
It was a moving day for James, who also made his first comments since the signing of the $ 154 million deal with the Lakers – a move that has again caused shocks in the NBA.
James recalled from his youth when life was a daily struggle for him and his mother. Nothing was easy as the pair was constantly moving and it was only with the help of other people that James found the structure.
Now he gives a path to children with the same problems
"I would never have imagined that.," He said. "I remember our foundation had a bike-a-thon, and I'd never have imagined that a five-mile bike ride would turn into a school, for which I'm unable to say anything. That is. "
the 33-year-old superstar said that the decision to leave Cleveland was difficult, but he did not rule out a second return to the Cavaliers.
"Look, I do not close the chapter on anything book on any matter," James said when asked when he would return to Cleveland to end his career. I hope that I will be able to stay there one day and watch my sweater go up in the beams, that's for sure.
When James announced on July 1 that he was leaving the Cavs, the owner of Cleveland, Dan Gilbert, who ripped him off the first time, said the franchise would be withdrawn "the famous 23 Cavs jersey one day on the line. "
James was not aware of Gilbert's promise.
"I did not hear that," he said. "I have not been in the news, it's great."
James led the Cavs to an NBA title in 2016, ending Cleveland's 52-year-old championship drought, and four finals away – a race that he admitted was even thinking possible when he came back in 2011 after four seasons in Miami.
James did not give much details about what prompted him to sign with the Lakers, but the appeal of playing for one of the most successful franchises of all . "There is no reason to become a Laker, to become a Yankee, to be part of Man U (Manchester United), to be part of a franchise or clubs and not to think about winning. championships or win at the highest level, "said James. "That's what the story tells."
James has his work cut out for him in Los Angeles. He will join a young team that has added some interesting pieces – Lance Stephenson, Rajon Rondo, Michael Beasley and JaVale McGee – during the off-season, but a team that has a long way to go before they can challenge the two-time defending champion. Golden State Warriors.
"What are my expectations for the team, we do not have any for the moment," said James. "But we will certainly be better than the year before, I think there will be months when we are really well, there will be months when we are not so good and it will come familiarity. "
Unlike his previous forays into the free agency, James wasted no time making a decision. After finishing his eighth finals with a sweep against Golden State, James met his family and agent before meeting with the Lakers on the first day.
"I did my homework after the season on the pros and cons of many different teams, including the Cavs, including Philadelphia, including Houston and Los Angeles," said James . "It was not as fast as it sounds, it was not like July 9, but after talking to my family more than anyone, I felt that it was the next step of my trip. "
trip will take him thousands of miles from home. But as James reminded students, family and friends in the final minutes of his remarks, he will never be far away.
"No matter if I play in Los Angeles or not, Akron Ohio is always home to me," he told the crowd.
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