We knew it was coming.
First, it was the Beats By Dre commercial. Then it was the McDonald's commercial. There was the Sprite commercial too. The returning of LeBron James' talents to the Cleveland Cavaliers meant more than just putting on the wine and gold from four-plus years ago; it meant that the egregious pomp and circumstance that comes with The King returning to northeast Ohio would be recognized to the highest degree. That can only mean one thing …
... an epic Nike commercial.
The NBA season kicked off on Tuesday night, but Thursday evening is the day all basketball fans have circled on the calendar. The Cleveland Cavaliers will host the New York Knicks at the Quicken Loans Arena. To some, it will feel like a brand new experience, but for the rest of us, it'll be the return of the man who made us actually give a damn about basketball in Cleveland. For just over two minutes in a commercial, the city of Cleveland comes back together as they rally around the return of the King. Well done, Nike, and thank the Jesus Shuttlesworth that basketball is officially back.
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Eddie Maisonet is the founder and editor emeritus of The Sports Fan Journal. Currently, he serves as an associate editor for ESPN.com. He is an unabashed Russell Westbrook and Barry Switzer apologist, owns over 100 fitteds and snapbacks, and lives by Reggie Jackson’s famous quote, “I am the straw that stirs the drink.”