LeBron James: Does Cavs return help or harm his legacy?

Now he can be the hero again.  That is, if he so chooses.

LeBron James‘ decision to return to Cleveland after four years in Miami can be seen in many ways, but every way comes back to him possibly fixing his tarnished legacy in Cleveland.

LeBron’s decision to “take his talents to South Beach” after the 2009-10 season and his decision to return to Cleveland is the equivalent of the good guy turning into the bad guy because of a spell, then becoming the good guy again after the spell wore off.

LeBron’s first-person essay, as told to SI.com’s Lee Jenkins, is the evidence of the spell being worn off as LeBron becomes Cleveland’s hero out of Akron once again.

This time there was no television special, more than enough speculation from every sports writer and sports network and no hints from LeBron until the letter was posted on Sports Illustrated’s website.

He admitted his mistakes with “The Decision,” although he says that he still would’ve left.

There’s no question that LeBron leaving Cleveland for the glitz and glamour of Miami was the best move for his career.  Let’s be honest, he wasn’t going to win any championships in Cleveland throughout the last four years.  He won two in Miami with a veteran team and had the support of both Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh at his sides to push him to that next echelon of NBA stardom.

Now his support system includes the likes of Kyrie Irving, Tristan Thompson, Dion Waiters, Anderson Varejao and rookie Andrew Wiggins.

Maybe James Blair, the fan that stormed the court last season to just to get a hug from LeBron, somewhat convinced LeBron to return to Cleveland in his three seconds of fame and NBA court-time. But what if he stayed in Cleveland?  What if he stayed as the hometown hero, still doing everything he could to win a championship? In his essay in SI.com, LeBron shows his humility as he prepares for his return.  He doesn’t promise any championships this time around (not one, not two, not three…. not four) and even admits that it’s hard to deliver and that the Cavs aren’t ready. Maybe his NBA Finals losses in 2011 and last season have helped him mature in that sense.  LeBron knows now that even he isn’t invincible or perfect. But while he admits his faults and knows that he can’t be the hero that Cleveland wants, he can be the hero that Cleveland needs. He says in the essay:

"“In Northeast Ohio, nothing is given.  Everything is earned.  You work for what you have.  I’m ready to accept the challenge.  I’m coming home.”"

He’s leaving the glitz and glamour of the beaches and the lifestyle of South Beach for Cleveland. Money goes away after a while, rings collect dust but legacies can either be perfect or tarnished. When he publically ditched Cleveland for Miami, he became a pariah.  The atom bomb he dropped in Cleveland in the form of “I’m taking my talents to South Beach” sent ripple effects across the nation.   His young legacy was tarnished as he, in essence, ditched the girl that took him to the dance for the hot girl at the dance.  He now has a chance to be the great Cleveland basketball player everyone wanted him to be.  He now has the chance to be the great Cleveland basketball player he may have been destined to be.  To be the hero Cleveland wanted him to be.

But more importantly, he now has the chance to fix the legacy he tarnished when he ditched the crimson and gold of the Cavs to the red and black of the Heat.  His two rings are cool and stand out in the accolades of his Hall-of-Fame career, however a ring with Cleveland will be worth way more than the two rings with the Heat ever will be.

What’s his legacy you ask?  Right now he’s the hometown traitor who’s returning for a second chance, who’s more mature and overall simply better than before.  He returns for his second chance now with experience he can share to the Cavs youth and he returns with the possibility of proving everyone wrong and winning an NBA title on his own.

It took four years for LeBron to realize that the hardwood isn’t always cleaner or fancier on the other side.  With that knowledge, he’s packed his bags and is heading home.