LeBron calls return to Miami emotional, questions critics

LeBron James didn't get a win in his first trip back to Miami playing against his old Heat teammates on Christmas Day. He did, however, feel the love.

James received a standing ovation before the Cleveland Cavaliers' 101-91 loss at American Airlines Arena, prompting him to call Heat fans "great."

"I always talked about them and always said that and they always showed their loyalty," James, who briefly left the game in the second half due to leg tightness, said of Miami's much-maligned fans.

But James also chose to address those who have criticized his decision to return to Cleveland, questioning fans and media who complain when athletes change teams.

James, from Yahoo's Marc Spears:

The question I have, which is kind of bothering me sometimes, is when a player decides to decide his own fate, there is always questions about it? When an organization decides to go elsewhere for a player, it's that they did what's best for the team. Let's figure that out some time.

According to Spears, James then said "I'm done," and left the locker room.