Because he’s the hero Gotham deserves, but not the one it needs right now. So, we’ll hunt him, because he can take it. Because he’s not our hero. He’s a silent guardian. A watchful protector. A Dark Knight. — The Dark Knight

LeBron James leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers 4 years ago is the best thing that ever happened to either of them. I believe it was the plan all along, or if it wasn’t it should have been. As LeBron says these 4 years have been like college for him. He has matured, he has satisfied his natural desire for championships, he has grown into a leader. More importantly however, Cleveland wasn’t set up to win when he left. But now 4 painful years later, 3 #1 picks later, many smart moves later, they are ready. Its true, they got very lucky, see below:

• 2011 — Cleveland had 19.9% chance of 1st pick, end up 4th picking Tristan Thompson. But earlier that year they traded with Clippers for 1st round pick, who had a 2.8% chance of being 1st, and ended up being Kyrie Irving
• 2012 — Cleveland had 13.8% chance of 1st pick, end up 4th picking Dion Waiters
• 2013 — Cleveland has 15.6% chance of 1st pick, pick Anthony Bennett
• 2014 — Cleveland has 1.7% chance of 1st pick, pick Andrew Wiggins
• 2015 — They will have up to 4 first round picks from (Miami, Memphis, and Chicago) and their own.

That is some phenomenal luck for a superbly unlucky franchise and city. The point remains though, without LeBron leaving, Cleveland would have never had any of these picks (exact players don’t matter). They would have remained capped out contending for Eastern Conference Championship, but never winning the NBA championship. LeBron left because he could take all the blow back. He knew that he had to leave, because his absence is what was needed. And now he is back to build and help the Cleveland Cavaliers become NBA champions.