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LeBron James says he’s returning to Cavaliers

FILE - This Sept. 29, 2008 file photo shows then-Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James at the team's media day in Independence, Ohio. A person familiar with the deals says the Cavaliers have agreed to trade guard Jarrett Jack, swingman Sergey Karasev and center Tyler Zeller, moves that can help their pursuit of LeBron James by clearing salary cap space. The Cavs have agreements with the Brooklyn Nets and Boston Celtics, according to the person who spoke Wednesday, July 9, 2014, to The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because teams are not permitted to discuss any trades until the league's moratorium ends Thursday. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan, File)
FILE - This Sept. 29, 2008 file photo shows then-Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James at the team's media day in Independence, Ohio. A person familiar with the deals says the Cavaliers have agreed to trade guard Jarrett Jack, swingman Sergey Karasev and center Tyler Zeller, moves that can help their pursuit of LeBron James by clearing salary cap space. The Cavs have agreements with the Brooklyn Nets and Boston Celtics, according to the person who spoke Wednesday, July 9, 2014, to The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because teams are not permitted to discuss any trades until the league's moratorium ends Thursday. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan, File) FILE - This Sept. 29, 2008 file photo shows then-Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James at the team's media day in Independence, Ohio. A person familiar with the deals says the Cavaliers have agreed to trade guard Jarrett Jack, swingman Sergey Karasev and center Tyler Zeller, moves that can help their pursuit of LeBron James by clearing salary cap space. The Cavs have agreements with the Brooklyn Nets and Boston Celtics, according to the person who spoke Wednesday, July 9, 2014, to The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because teams are not permitted to discuss any trades until the league's moratorium ends Thursday. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan, File)

CLEVELAND (AP) – LeBron James is going back to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

James tells Sports Illustrated, that he’s decided to go home. It’s a move that would have seemed unfathomable four years ago, after the venomous fallout that followed his decision to leave Cleveland for the Miami Heat.

James told SI: “My relationship with Northeast Ohio is bigger than basketball. I didn’t realize that four years ago. I do now.”

He spent his first seven NBA seasons in Cleveland. In four years with the Heat, he went to the NBA Finals four times, winning two championships. And now heads back to Cleveland to see if he can finally deliver on his promise of winning a crown for that title-starved city.

James is from Akron, Ohio, not far from Cleveland.

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Tim Reynolds reported from Las Vegas and Tom Withers reported from Cleveland