A crowd of more than 2,000 excited fans welcomed home three-time NBA champion LeBron James on Monday afternoon.
The atmosphere around Northeast Ohio was electric all day after James, an Akron native, led the Cavaliers to the NBA championship on Sunday night in Oakland, Calif., with a 93-89 victory over the Golden State Warriors in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals.
“Oh wow, oh my God,” James said with a huge grin on his face as he stepped out of a large, black limo van on Crystal Lake Road, which straddles Copley Township, Fairlawn and James’ home in Bath.
“How unbelievable are you guys? When I came back two years ago I said I had one goal, and that was to bring a championship to this city. And last night me and my 14 teammates and my coaching staff, we did that. We are the first team ever in NBA history to come back from a 3-1 deficit.”
James then paused as fans roared. A couple of supporters shouted: “We love you.”
To which James replied: “I love y’all too. You guys are unbelievable. That championship wasn’t just for us — the 15 guys, the coaching staff and everybody that traveled with us. That championship last night was for everybody in Northeast Ohio and you guys should feel proud about it.”
A young fan yelled: “Thank you” in the direction of the icon who arrived with a police escort. James smiled and finished his minute and a half chat by saying: “And lastly because I am so tired, I haven’t slept at all, I am going to take a long nap, but before that I just always want you guys to remember that I am just a kid from Akron, Ohio.”
James’ final comments sent the crowd into a tizzy as DJ Brian Hostler replayed the song Coming Home by Skylar Grey, which was heard on the loudspeakers earlier in the day along with other popular songs such as Happy by Pharrell Williams, Turn Down for What by DJ Snake & Lil Jon and Uptown Funk by Bruno Mars.
“This was really emotional, especially with the music that is playing,” fan Chantel Edmonds said as Queen’s We Are the Champions played. “It is crazy to see somebody who grew up in the same town as you succeed like this.”
Stephen Parker, 5, and Derrick Kruger, 7, stood alongside Edmonds and were thrilled to see their idol in person.
“LeBron is so good,” Stephen said of James, who had 27 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists in Game 7 after 41-point performances in Game 5 and 6 wins.
Said Derrick: “LeBron played with so much heart and brought a championship to Akron.”
The LeBron James Family Foundation organized the welcome home party, with a large number of the crowd stationed on Crystal Lake Road and Idle Brook Drive. About half of the spectators wore free green Nike “WE ARE FAMILY” T-shirts. Scores of additional fans showed up wearing wine, gold, blue and white Cavs jerseys, championship T-shirts and championship hats.
James’ No. 23 jersey was a popular sight among the crowd, which included jersey numbers 2 (Kyrie Irving), 0 (Kevin Love), 13 (Tristan Thompson) and 5 (J.R. Smith).
Fan Ryan Isley said he got his championship gear at a nearby Dick’s Sporting Goods on Sunday night. All area Dick’s stores were crowded with Cavs fans Monday seeking items.
“I saw The Drive, The Fumble, The Shot, 1995, 1997 and The Decision,” Isley said. “It just flowed through me that a Cleveland team just won a championship and the kid from Akron is the one who brought it to them. It is amazing as a kid from Akron myself to sit here and watch what he does for this city year in and year out, even when he was in Miami [winning two titles with the Heat].”
Siearra Douglas and Malika Rice also ventured out into the 90-degree temperatures to see James an hour after the Cavs’ plane arrived at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.
“After 52 years of losing, we finally won,” Douglas said.
Rice joked, “The Lake Erie Monsters won [a minor league hockey title] because they didn’t have Cleveland in their name. Now, we have broken the curse and we can actually try to win more championships [with the Indians and Browns].”
Hostler played music as fans of all ages danced and held high Cavs posters and flags.
“I got an email about this event at 9:30 this morning,” Hostler said. “I was glad to clear my schedule and be here. I do all of the events for LeBron. This was amazing. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity. Even if they come back and do it again next year, it will not be the same as that first time. It was nice to be a part of this and I got to bring my kids Cody, Camden, Colsen and Callie out to see it.”
The Cavs are scheduled to attend a parade in Cleveland on Wednesday, and a celebratory event at Lock 3 is expected to take place in downtown Akron later this week.
“We are ecstatic,” said Hope Weisburn, who lives in the same neighborhood as James. “We can’t believe we are witnessing this in our lifetime. We have tried so many times and come so close in different sports. … Once LeBron and Kyrie started to click, the team the past three games played unbelievable basketball.”
Michael Beaven can be reached at 330-996-3829 or mbeaven@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MBeavenABJ.