LeBron James #6

Miami Heat fans welcome LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh to AmericanAirlines Arena

MIAMI – Dressed in a white Heat uniform for the first time, LeBron James took a look at his new home crowd, folded his arms across his chest and nodded.

“It feels right,” James said. “To be in this position, to wear the Heat uniform, everything is nice. We’re going to make the world know that the Heat is back.”

Naturally, James promised championships. Multiple championships.

“That’s the only reason I’m here, man,” James said.

With 13,000 fans chanting “Yes We Did!” amid an atmosphere more suited to a rock concert than a basketball game, the Miami Heat welcomed the NBA’s newest trio of superstars at AmericanAirlines Arena Friday night for a celebration unlike just about any other in team history.

James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh all arrived accompanied by plumes of smoke, lifted into the air on a forklift for their grand arrival.

Keys to the city were set to be awarded to each star, and Gov. Charlie Crist was in the stands.

But not all of Florida was impressed.

Orlando Magic GM Otis Smith said Friday he was surprised James went to Miami because he thought the two-time MVP was “more of a competitor.”

Smith said the “great ones” do it on their own and “usually stay in one location.”

It was rare public criticism from the usually coy Smith and perhaps a move to motivate his Magic.

Asked if James’ move to Miami will cause a power shift in the NBA, Smith responded, “Is Kobe retiring?”

“He’s proven he can do it on his own,” Smith said of Lakers star Kobe Bryant, smiling over the comments. “Oops. My bad.”

Smith also said the Magic “still hold the crown” as the best in the Southeast Division, having won three straight titles.

Meanwhile, Cleveland continued to fume over losing its former hero. The sports memorabilia business Fathead Inc., a company owned by Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert, offered LeBron James wall graphics online at price reduced from $99.99 to $17.41. The significance? Benedict Arnold was born in 1741.

“He quit,” Gilbert told The Associated Press on Thursday night after roasting James in an open letter online. “Not just in Game 5 (of the Cavs’ second-round loss to Boston this year), but in Games 2, 4 and 6. Watch the tape. The Boston series was unlike anything in the history of sports for a superstar. … People have covered up for him for way too long.”

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LeBron James could have a new number next season, but Cleveland Cavaliers fans are hoping the team name on the jersey remains the same.

James filed paperwork to switch from No. 23 to No. 6, the league confirmed Tuesday.

The Plain Dealer of Cleveland first reported the story Monday.

James, who declined interview requests on Tuesday, is going from one legendary number to another. Julius Erving and Bill Russell both have made No. 6 famous.

“The first thing I think of is Dr. J,” Cavaliers coach Mike Brown said.

The All-Star said in November that he was thinking of giving up 23 out of respect for his hero Michael Jordan, but at that time he was “50-50,” according to the newspaper.

“I’ve done it,” James told The Plain Dealer Monday. “I already sent it in. I’m going to be No. 6.”

Six is James’ jersey number on the Olympic team, and he wears it every day at practice, but the NBA does not have to grant his request. If James switches teams, he can choose any number he wishes. Permission for a number change is required only if he stays with the Cavaliers.

“All it does is back up LeBron’s beliefs,” Brown said. “He’s a loyalty guy. When he believes in something, he sticks to his guns and he believes wholeheartedly in what he’s doing.”

He isn’t the first superstar to change numbers midcareer. Among others, Jordan briefly wore No. 45 after coming out of retirement with the Bulls, and Kobe Bryant more recently switched from No. 8 to No. 24 with the Lakers.

“We remember the 8 on Kobe, but we also know the 24,” Cavs point guard Mo Williams said. “After a year or two, people will look past the old number and let it rest with Jordan.”

James will be part of the vaunted 2010 free-agent class that includes Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.

Although Bulls fans would like to see James try to make No. 6 as legendary as No. 23 in Chicago, New York also has maneuvered to have enough cap space to sign him.

Cleveland can sign James to a longer, more lucrative deal, however.

James dismissed a question about his future shortly after the Cavaliers beat the Knicks 124-93 Monday night.

“I stopped answering free-agent questions a long time ago,” he said.

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