LeBron James: Why Cleveland Should Embrace King James During Tonight's Reunion

LeBron James and the mediocre Miami Heat visit the Cleveland Cavaliers tonight in what is anything but just another regular-season game.

James makes his Heat debut in Cleveland in what is sure to be an explosive atmosphere inside Quicken Loans Arena.

The house that James built and the setting for so many of LeBron's memorable highlight reel plays and moments will likely be turned against him.

Miami's recent struggles surely won't make things any easier for James, who will hear things he has probably never heard before tonight from Cavs fans.

Miami is just three games above .500, and the season is already one-fourth of the way over.

Even worse, the Heat are just 2-5 on the road this season, hardly the make of a championship team.

But the Heat aren't exactly going up against a juggernaut; the Cavs are just 7-10 this season and seem to be missing a certain someone on the floor.

However, regardless of the circumstances, Cavs fans should embrace LeBron James tonight when he takes the court.

Sure, the way he handled free agency and announcing his decision was misguided and left Clevelanders with a sour taste, but after all, it's thanks to LeBron that Cavs basketball was ever even relevant.

In seven years, James built a legacy in Cleveland that was great enough to deserve an entire summer of our undivided attention.

The high school standout went from teenager to King James overnight, and the city of Cleveland finally had a reason to believe.

James, an Ohio native, quickly became the city's most loved son and since has become a victim of his own success.

And before a city desperate for a winner could produce a champion, it's greatest chance was gone.

A bitter end indeed for a bruised and beaten franchise, but still LeBron's success with the Heat directly reflects his time with Cleveland, and James will forever be remembered for his accomplishments with the Cavs, even if the divorce was ugly.

No one expects Cleveland fans to accept LeBron's decision or even to support him the rest of the way, but they can at least acknowledge, for one night, what King James did for Cleveland.

Patrick Clarke is a student at Towson University and a writing intern for Bleacher Report.