Heat President Pat Riley recently spoke to The Athletic about LeBron James' decision to leave the Heat as a free agent in the summer of 2014 to join the Cavaliers. Riley said he was initially angry and puzzled by James' departure, but now he feels relieved.
"I think it's the most normal thing he does. At some point in your life, you have to clear up something before you can move on. I've always felt that even if he left Cleveland for Miami for professional reasons, he would one day return to his hometown or he would be haunted by guilt for the rest of his life.
"So he went back to Cleveland and rebuilding that team was a courageous and very selfless approach. If he hadn't done so, he might have a hard time being accepted there. Riley said.
"He did the right thing." Riley said.