When Athletes Return to Their Former Teams
Is LeBron James gearing up for second stint in Cleveland?
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LeBron James Returning to Cleveland Cavaliers? - Let Yahoo Sports tell it and LeBron James is seriously considering returning to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The website is reporting that James’s agent and childhood friend, Rich Paul, has confided in people back in Ohio that King James’s mission is to return to Cleveland after exiting the team in 2010 and breaking the city’s heart. There’s even a report about the Cavs are hoping to move Jarrett Jack in attempt to free the cap space necessary to offer James a maximum contract. Though LeBron would probably become the best example of an athlete returning to a team he once played for, he certainly wouldn’t be the first. Click on for a look at sports stars returning to their old stomping grounds.(Photo: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
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Alonzo Mourning, Miami Heat - Like him or not, one had to respect and even appreciate Alonzo Mourning’s return to the Miami Heat in 2005. That’s because after completing seven years (1995-2002) with the Heat and signing to the then-New Jersey Nets, Mourning retired in November 2003 due to kidney disease complications. A month later he had a successful kidney transplant. When the rugged 6-foot-10 center returned to the NBA in March 2005, it was with his old team, the Heat. Playing with Shaquille O’Neal and Dwyane Wade, Mourning helped Miami secure an NBA championship — his first — with eight points, six rebounds and team-high five blocks in a clinching Game 6 against the Dallas Mavericks. Tried and true, Alonzo.(Photo: Sporting News via Getty Images)
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Andy Pettitte, New York Yankees - Andy Pettitte’s second stint with the New York Yankees — the same team he started his MLB career with — went great. The southpaw pitcher won his 200th career game in 2007, led the American League in starts (34) in 2008 and added to his fourth World Series championship ring by helping the Bronx Bombers win it all in 2009. Unforgettable run. (Photo: Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
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Magic Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers - Who didn’t like seeing Magic Johnson back in the Los Angeles Lakers’ purple and gold? After dealing with HIV for just over five years, a 36-year-old Magic defied odds once again by returning to the Lakers during the 1995-96 season. Although he was a shadow of his former self, he still mustered a serviceable 14.6 points, 6.9 assists and 5.7 rebounds per game. No championship ring to add to his previous five, but oh, oh, oh, it’s (still) Magic…you know! (Photo: Stephen Dunn/Allsport/Getty Images)
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Allen Iverson, Philadelphia 76ers - Look — Allen Iverson had proved to be one of the most prolific scorers in NBA history with the Philadelphia 76ers long before he returned to his original team during the 2009-10 season. But those final 25 games of his NBA career weren’t meant for him to cross cats over and turn back the hands of time. They were more about “The Answer” getting his just due from the City of Brotherly Love. And he definitely got that. (Photo: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
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Rickey Henderson, Oakland Athletics - Its hard to argue that a trade back to the Oakland Athletics in 1989 didn’t help add to Rickey Henderson’s growing legend. Henderson helped power the A’s to a World Series championship that year, before they traded him again in 1993 and this time he helped the Toronto Blue Jays win a title. Henderson would go on to have two more stints with the Athletics, way before ending his Hall of Fame career in 2003. (Photo: Otto Greule/Allsport/Getty IMages)
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Mark Messier, New York Rangers - Like ice hockey or not, Mark Messier became embedded in sports lore after helping the New York Rangers end their 54-year drought and delivering a Stanley Cup championship in 1994. His return to Madison Square Garden in 2000 only re-ignited the love that Rangers fans had for their beloved captain.(Photo: Doug Pensinger/Allsport)