LeBron James - Would still be same player without Miami stint - ESPN

MIAMI — With his former team's «Heat Culture» slogan painted at half court in front of him as he rested on a baseline seat after shootaround Monday, LeBron James reflected on what his time with the franchise meant to his career that has now spanned more than two decades.

«I think I would still be at this level no matter if I would've came here or not,» said the Los Angeles Lakers star, now in his 21st season, said. «Let's not get it twisted: The four years I was here, it was amazing. I loved everything about it. Loved this franchise, this franchise is top tier, it's one of the best franchises in the world.

»But as far as my career, my career was going to be my career as far as individually, because I know how much I put into the game and I know how much I strived to be as great as I can be. [But] as far as what I was able to learn here was second to none, that's for sure."

James was 25 years old when he arrived in South Beach in 2010. He had zero championships, two MVPs and one NBA Finals appearance to his name through his first seven seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers. By the time he left Miami in 2014, he had boosted those totals to two titles, four MVPs, five trips to the Finals and two Finals MVPs, and he was instrumental in the Heat reeling off 27 straight wins in 2012-13 — the second-longest win streak in league history.

«I came here for one reason and one reason only, and that was to win championships,» James said. «That was my only goal. That was the only reason I teamed up with [Dwyane] Wade and [Chris] Bosh. Because I felt like I couldn't do it in Cleveland. We couldn't.… I tried to recruit guys to come to Cleveland. I tried to go and help the upstairs and it wasn't happening. So I had an opportunity to be a