UPDATED at 9:40 p.m.

LeBron James wanted to play with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. The only place that could happen was Miami.

Additional Photos

Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James arrives at the "LeBron Appreciation Day" at the InfoCision Stadium on the University of Akron's campus on Saturday, June 19, 2010 in Akron, Ohio. With thousands of hometown fans already gone or leaving, James stunned everyone by walking through a side gate into nearly empty stadium after the event officially ended. James, 25, did not commit to organizers that he would be at the event, which was sponsored by local businesses and the city. He did not address free agency during his 10-minute stay, his second public appearance since his season ended with a second-round playoff loss to the Boston Celtics. (AP Photo/Akron Beacon Journal, Paul Tople) MANDATORY CREDIT AP

Get ready, NBA: A superstar trio is born.

Ending weeks of silence and drama, the two-time MVP said on his ESPN special from Greenwich, Conn., on Thursday night that he’s decided to join the Miami Heat and leave the Cleveland Cavaliers after an unsuccessful seven-year quest for the championship he covets.

“The best opportunity to win and to win now and to win in the future also,” James said. “Winning is a huge thing for me.”

It’s a huge victory for the Heat, who got commitments from Wade and Bosh on Wednesday. That duo, along with James, formed the upper echelon of the most-celebrated free-agent period in league history.

Heat president Pat Riley landed them all, a three-pack of stars to help shape his quest for a dynasty in Miami.

And for Cleveland, a city scorned for generations by some of sports’ biggest letdowns, James’ long-awaited words represented a defeat perhaps unlike any other.

James is gone. Home sweet home no more.

He said he made the decision Thursday morning and knows it won’t go over well in Ohio.

“They can have mixed emotions, of course,” James said, adding that Akron will “always be home for me.”

LeBron James shows at camp,<br>then leaves as decision nears

CLEVELAND — LeBron James has come and gone.

The NBA’s marquee free agent showed at his basketball camp today and then left, hours before he was to announce in Greenwich, Conn., where he’ll play next season.

James arrived in midafternoon with former teammate Damon Jones. James wore a T-shirt and shorts and took a seat to watch high school stars play at Cleveland State University.

He stayed a little more than an hour before heading off in a white Bentley, destination unknown. He did not speak to a reporter, but said “thank you” to some coaches in the stands he knew and who wished him luck.

Some of college basketball’s top coaches were at the King City Classic, part of James’ Nike-sponsored camp. Among them were Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski, North Carolina’s Roy Williams, West Virginia’s Bob Huggins and Syracuse’s Jim Boeheim.

There is rampant speculation James is considering Miami to join Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. Boeheim says it might not matter because he doesn’t think any team is going to beat the Lakers.

Related Stories