“He deserved it,” Wade said. “I said all year, I thought LeBron was the MVP of this league. He’s a guy who every year is going to be in that conversation. ... He showed it all year, especially with his team’s success.”

Focused from the start, the 6-foot-8, 250-pound James sharpened his already formidable skills this season.

He started a career-high 81 games and set personal bests in field-goal (49) and free-throw (79) percentages as well as blocks (93). James became the second player to post five straight seasons of at least 27 points, six rebounds and six assists. The other is Robertson, whose versatile game is the one to which James’ is most often compared.

James nearly averaged a triple-double — 32 points, 11.3 rebounds and 7.5 assists — as the top-seeded Cavaliers breezed through the first round of the playoffs, sweeping Detroit in four games. Cleveland hosts the Atlanta Hawks in Game 1 on Tuesday.

“My mission hasn’t been completed,” James said. “I still I have a lot of things I want to do this season. I want to have another celebration in June.”

With his longtime girlfriend, Savannah, and their two sons sitting up front, James thanked his family, friends and former teammates during a touching speech. Promising not to cry, he spoke fondly of his mom, who struggled to raise her only son.

“I don’t know how you did it,” James said.

Better than anyone, Gloria James understood her son’s trip through his old neighborhoods.

“It didn’t surprise me,” she said. “He has never forgotten where he came from.”

Soon, it was time for James to head home, a place he never left.

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Jim Rogash / Getty Images

Not in his house

Rajon Rondo had 18 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds and the Boston Celtics beat the Philadelphia 76ers 85-75 in Game 7 on Saturday night to advance to the Eastern Conference finals.

CSN: Rondo's big-game DNA shines  |  Highlights

CSN: You may not see it from start to finish, but when the game — or in this case, postseason life — is on the line, you see just how good Rajon Rondo can be.

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