LeBron James has flown the coop to Los Angeles, and, if you recall the last time that he signed away from Cleveland, it could’ve been anyone’s guess how fans would respond this time around. Would there be any bitterness? Burned jerseys? Hate letters from the owner written in Comic Sans?
Nah. This time around, the fan loyalty seems to be holding tight to LeBron even as he departs his hometown team. Although his Lakers jersey is obviously more popular in Los Angeles than any other market, fans in Cleveland are still representing for their guy.
Not bad! Obviously, the circumstances this time around are a little different, since LeBron has worked hard to mend fences with hometown fans after a disastrous response to his 2010 departure. Winning a championship helps, too.
(Oh, by the way, we see Oakland/San Francisco on that list at third.)
On LeBron’s part, he isn’t leaving any doubt as to how he feels about his fans in Cleveland. He left a sentimental thank-you post on his Instagram account, and of course, there will be more to come.
