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New 'king' of South Beach: LeBron James
NEW YORK, (UPI) -- A season of speculation about the future of LeBron James ended Thursday when the NBA superstar announced on national television he was signing with Miami.
The deal gives Miami a three-headed monster consisting of James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh that will be an odds-on favorite to win the NBA East title next season.
"I'm going to take my talents to South Beach and join the Miami Heat," James said on an ESPN special. "Bring me in, and we're going to be pretty good."
James, an Ohio native, said he made his final decision Thursday morning after an unprecedented courtship that saw teams blowing out rosters to clear cap space and the sporting press. "King James" had also been strongly wooed by the Cleveland where he played for seven years, as well as the big-market New York Knicks, New Jersey Nets, Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Clippers.
James said his ultimate requirement was joining a team that would have a solid shot at winning an NBA championship.
"This is going to get me the best chance to win," he said. "The things the Heat have done to clear up cap space and bring in the three of us is unprecedented."
Along with mild winter weather, Miami offered James an established superstar in Wade to carry some of the load on the court. The Miami Herald said the Heat would probably have to trade Michael Beasley to cross his salary off the balance sheet and go with point guard Mario Chalmers and an assortment of journeymen and rookies as the supporting cast for the big three.
"I feel like we have a chance of winning and winning for multiple years," James said.
NEW YORK, (UPI) -- A season of speculation about the future of LeBron James ended Thursday when the NBA superstar announced on national television he was signing with Miami.
The deal gives Miami a three-headed monster consisting of James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh that will be an odds-on favorite to win the NBA East title next season.
"I'm going to take my talents to South Beach and join the Miami Heat," James said on an ESPN special. "Bring me in, and we're going to be pretty good."
James, an Ohio native, said he made his final decision Thursday morning after an unprecedented courtship that saw teams blowing out rosters to clear cap space and the sporting press. "King James" had also been strongly wooed by the Cleveland where he played for seven years, as well as the big-market New York Knicks, New Jersey Nets, Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Clippers.
James said his ultimate requirement was joining a team that would have a solid shot at winning an NBA championship.
"This is going to get me the best chance to win," he said. "The things the Heat have done to clear up cap space and bring in the three of us is unprecedented."
Along with mild winter weather, Miami offered James an established superstar in Wade to carry some of the load on the court. The Miami Herald said the Heat would probably have to trade Michael Beasley to cross his salary off the balance sheet and go with point guard Mario Chalmers and an assortment of journeymen and rookies as the supporting cast for the big three.
"I feel like we have a chance of winning and winning for multiple years," James said.