LeBron James is back in Cleveland and we’ve already seen the slimmed-down photos of King James to prove that he’ll be ready when the NBA season kicks off on Oct. 28. James hasn’t been shy about showing his chiseled frame as evidenced in a newly-released Beats by Dre ad for Powerbeats2 Wireless headphones that shows the two-time champ and three-time league MVP going through a beast-looking training session.
“Akron is home,” the advertisement begins with the sound of his mother, Gloria James’s voice, while “Take Me to Church” by Hozier plays in the background. "This is the city that raised you. I’m so proud of you. Welcome home, son.”
James walks into the LeBron James Arena a St. Vincent’s-St. Mary’s in Akron where he played in high school and where the gym is named in his honor. An emotional montage – a home being torn down, an empty refrigerator -- plays interspersed through James's workout, heightening the drama and reminding us that James still has something to play for, namely bringing a championship trophy home. The Cleveland Cavaliers selected James with the first overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft. He led the Cavs to the franchise’s first NBA Finals appearance in 2007 and won two league Most Valuable Player awards in his first stint in Cleveland.
When James left Cleveland for Miami in 2010, his jersey was burned in the street, his giant billboard was stripped down and he was the most villainous character in Ohio. Now the entire state is welcoming him with open arms and Cleveland is suddenly the favorite for its first-ever NBA title.
“Don’t ever forget where you came from,” the King’s mother reminds near the end.