In 2014 LeBron's return to Cleveland came with one of the most-read player statements in sports.
He published an extended letter in Sports Illustrated explaining the decision to go home.
'I owe Cleveland a championship' became one of the defining lines of that summer.
Two years later he cashed it in, arriving at the 2016 Finals with three straight FMVP awards.
One long letter and one promise set the summer on fire.
A dunk counted as six steps live on air, and the internet started counting every stride.
LeBron's signature smirk became a universal reaction image for any absurd moment.
The Heat's ritual — a roar, a dance, a huddle — became the franchise's defining image.