Shortly before the championship celebration parade kicked off, LeBron James made it clear that he wants to pursue a second title in Cleveland.
James, in an interview with Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com, said he loves it in Cleveland and he loves his teammates.
The 31-year-old NBA star told the website that his agent would handle all of the particulars, but he is happy.
"I've got no plans to go anywhere," he told Vardon.
Some sports analysts have said James would leave, in part, because he can become a free agent this summer if he does not exercise the one-year, $24 million player option.
The Cavaliers defeated the Golden State Warriors on Sunday in Game 7 of the NBA Finals, becoming Cleveland's first major pro sports franchise to win a title since the 1964 Browns.
On Monday, Stephen A. Smith appeared on ESPN's Mike and Mike show and said the Lakers and Heat were possible destinations for James.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">“From what I’ve been told, the Lakers and Heat are possiblities as a destination for LeBron James this summer.” <br><br>- Stephen A. Smith</p>— Mike & Mike (@MikeAndMike) <a href="https://twitter.com/MikeAndMike/status/744892077503184897">June 20, 2016</a></blockquote>
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NBA legend Earvin Magic Johnson said James, who said he wanted to deliver the city a Championship when he returned in 2014, could leave and "nobody can be mad at him."
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">LeBron James delivered on his promise to bring a championship to Cleveland, now if he decides to leave nobody can be mad at him.</p>— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) <a href="https://twitter.com/MagicJohnson/status/744729648873902081">June 20, 2016</a></blockquote>
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Johnson's Tweet made reference to a letter James wrote for si.com when he announced he would be heading to Cleveland after a stint with the Miami Heat.
James wrote:
I’m not promising a championship. I know how hard that is to deliver. We’re not ready right now. No way. Of course, I want to win next year, but I’m realistic. It will be a long process, much longer than it was in 2010. My patience will get tested. I know that. I’m going into a situation with a young team and a new coach. I will be the old head. But I get a thrill out of bringing a group together and helping them reach a place they didn’t know they could go.
Speculation about the 2016-2017 season can be put to rest.
