Inside The Heat

LeBron James Breaks Down "Decision" To Join Miami Heat In 2010

Shandel Richardson

Mar 24, 2025; Orlando, Florida, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) looks on against the Orlando Magic in the second quarter at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Mar 24, 2025; Orlando, Florida, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) looks on against the Orlando Magic in the second quarter at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images / Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
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NBA superstar LeBron James made one of the most discussed and scrutinized decisions in sports history in 2010.

That summer he decided to leave the Cleveland Cavaliers to join forces with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh with the Miami Heat. The pairing gave the Heat three of the top 10 players.

Fifteen years later, James discussed "The Decision" on the Pat McAfee show on ESPN.

“But, it got to the point, [in] that final season, I was like I’ve maximized this potential," James said. "I’ve squeezed all the juice out of this damn lemon here, and I know it, and in order for me to get to where I want to get to, I have to make a choice for my career going forward. And Miami was the best choice at that moment."

James took a lot of criticism because many felt he was taking the easy way to a championship. The Heat won two titles in four straight Finals appearances from 2010-14.

“I felt like it was the best choice for me,” James said. “The conversations I had with D-Wade, had with Bosh, had with Udonis Haslem. D-Wade and UD had been there, they had won one, they had [beaten] Dallas.”

Shandel Richardson is the publisher of Miami Heat On SI. He can be reached at shandelrich@gmail.com

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Shandel Richardson
SHANDEL RICHARDSON

Shandel has covered the NBA since 2010, with previous stops at The Athletic and South Florida Sun-Sentinel.  He has covered six NBA Finals, one Super Bowl, the NCAA basketball tournament. He has also been a beat writer for the Miami Hurricanes and contributed on every major beat in South Florida since 2003, including the Miami Dolphins and Miami Marlins. He can also be read in the Sportsbook Review for gambling coverage from around the NBA. A native of Bloomington, Illinois, Shandel attended Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. He's also worked for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and Kansas City Star.  TWITTER: @ShandelRich EMAIL: shandelrich@gmail.com You can subscribe to our YouTube channel here Follow all of our Miami Heat coverage on Facebook here