LeBron James confirms he’ll stay in Cleveland next year

He played seven seasons in Cleveland before leaving for the Miami Heat, where he helped that team win two championships.

Today (June 22), the Cleveland Cavaliers are celebrating their 2016 NBA Championship with an enormous parade and rally through downtown Cleveland.

Cleveland city courts – and this is true – are waiving fees and forgoing arrest warrants for anybody who misses a court date because he or she was at the celebration.

No longer the butt of jokes, it’s a title town again.

Unless you live under a rock, you know that the Cavs beat the Golden State Warriors to claim their first National Basketball Association championship in legendary and unprecedented fashion.

Cleveland Cavaliers small forward LeBron James (23) in action against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. “I came back for a reason”.

The Cavaliers title parade is underway with a truck spraying confetti into the crowd, Ohio State coaches riding in a convertible and the Ohio State marching band.

Free agents can begin negotiating July 1 and can sign on July 7. And on Wednesday, the city held a midday parade – one that people started gathering for on Tuesday.

More than 20,000 fans greeted the team.

“I wouldn’t trade it for the world”, Irving said.

“This is the happiest time in my life right now”, James added. A shirtless J.R. Smith dropped down from his vehicle and slapped hands with fans along barricades near “The Q”. Some of the loudest ovations were for Australian guard Matthew Dellavedova, who couldn’t wipe off his smile while soaking in the ride.

There was nearly no visible green lawn at the city’s downtown open field known as The Mall, where the crowd gathered for the post-parade rally.

During his remarks, owner Dan Gilbert revealed that general manager David Griffin had written to players after Game 4, telling them not to give up.

Cleveland fans upset with the planned removal of the giant LeBron James banner across from Quicken Loans Arena can take some comfort in knowing that Sherwin-Williams Co. will put it back up this fall.

Irving modestly credited James with making his moment possible.

“There is no shot without the block”, he said.

The victory also ends 50 years of heartache for the city of Cleveland in the professional sports category.