LeBron James is not driven by championships.
Or so he says in a description for a nine-minute video the four-time MVP posted Monday on his Facebook page. In the video James discusses a new Beats by Dre commercial that features his hometown of Akron prominently.
The commercial for the $200 Powerbeats2 Wireless headphones debuted earlier this month. The spot is narrated by James' mother, Gloria:
In the behind-the-scenes interview James posted on his Facebook page, he discussed just how important Akron is to him:
"It's like my father, it's like my brother, it's like my mother, it's like my grandmother, its like everything to me," James says, "The city looked over me, it raised me to be who I am today."
James has sometimes avoided talking about his childhood, which was not always easy. His mother was 16 when he was born, and he grew up without a father. James and his mother moved from apartment to apartment in the early years of his life before he moved in with Frank Walker, a local youth football coach who introduced James to basketball at age 9.
Akron has been front and center during James' grand return to Northeast Ohio. In his announcement in Sports Illustrated, James wrote that going to Miami for four years was similar to a kid going away to college (James never attended college, instead going straight to the NBA). Returning to where he was raised felt natural for him.
In August James held a huge Homecoming rally at University of Akron.
James writes in the description for his video that "I'm not driven by Championships, I’m driven by my hometown, by Northeast Ohio." While that seems true, perhaps that sentiment has changed over the years. When he left Cleveland in 2010 it was because he felt he had the best chance to win a title in Miami. He and his teammates did that, winning two championships in four years.
The Cavaliers open their season at home Thursday against the New York Knicks.
NBA Hall Of Famers With Titles For Two Teams
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Kareem's first title came with Milwaukee in 1971 as he and Oscar Robertson guided the Bucks to the only championship in franchise history.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
After being traded to the Lakers, Kareem collected titles in 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987 and 1988.
Wilt Chamberlain
In 1966-67, Chamberlain averaged 24.1 points and 24.2 rebounds to lead the 76ers to a 68-13 regular-season record and the NBA championship.
Wilt Chamberlain
After being traded to the Lakers, Wilt lost his first two Finals appearance, to Celtics in 1969 and the Knicks in 1970. But in 1972, Chamberlain and Lakers capped a season that included a 33-game winning streak and a 69-12 record by wiping out the Knicks in the Finals.
Jamaal Wilkes
Wilkes won NBA rookie of the year in 1975 when he and Rick Barry helped the Warriors win the title, sweeping the Bullets in the Finals.
Jamaal Wilkes
Wilkes then became the part of three title teams with the Lakers in 1980, 1982 and 1985.
Bill Walton
Walton was the catalyst to Portland's 1977 NBA championship team. In the clinching Game 6 against the 76ers, Walton had 20 points, 23 rebounds, 7 assists and 8 blocks.
Bill Walton
Injuries derailed his career, but Walton earned the NBA's Sixth Man Award in 1986 in helping the Celtics win the third and final championship of the Larry Bird era.
Dennis Johnson
Johnson was NBA Finals MVP in 1979 when the Seattle SuperSonics won the only championship in franchise history.
Dennis Johnson
The Celtics acquired Johnson to help contain 76ers guard Andrew Toney, who had earned the nickname The Boston Strangler. Johnson helped the Celtics win titles in 1984 and 1986.
Dennis Rodman
Rodman was a key reserve on Detroit's championship teams in 1989 and 1990.
Dennis Rodman
Then he replaced Horace Grant as the starting power forward on the Bulls and was a part of Michael Jordan's second three-peat.
Robert Parish
The Chief was the center of Boston's three title teams in the Bird era.
Robert Parish
He picked up one more ring as a reserve on the Bulls' 1997 championship team.
Slater Martin
Martin was part of the George Mikan-led Lakers that won four NBA titles in the early 50s.
Slater Martin
He was then a member of the St. Louis Hawks in 1958 when they beat the Celtics in the Finals for the franchise's lone championship.
Arnie Risen
Risen is No. 19 in the picture above of the Celtics' 1957 NBA championship team. It was the first in franchise history. Risen also won in 1951 with the Rochester Royals.
Clyde Lovellette
Lovellette is usually known for being the answer to this trivia question: Who was the first player to win an NCAA title, an Olympic gold medal and an NBA championship? Lovellette won three NBA rings, with the Lakers (1954) and Celtics (1963, 1964).
Shaquille O'Neal
Technically, Shaq is not part of the group yet, because he doesn't become eligible for Hall of Fame induction until 2017, but that's merely a formality. O'Neal led the Lakers to a three-peat in 2000, 2001 and 2002.
Shaquille O'Neal
After being traded to Miami, Shaq helped Dwyane Wade and the Heat earn their first title in 2006.
