LeBron James 'ready for challenge' in Cleveland

41 NBA basketball star LeBron James walks surrounded by security guards as he attends a promotional event at Phenom House, in Rio de Janeiro, July 12. AP Photo

LeBron James made his first public appearance since announcing he was returning to the Cleveland Cavaliers, holding court with a group of starry-eyed Brazilian basketballers on the eve of the World Cup final in Rio.

Just 24 hours after he revealed he was leaving the Miami Heat to return home, the NBA's biggest star was the centre of attraction on July 12 at an old warehouse in the Rio port district.

"It's a really exciting time for myself. I am ready for the challenge," he replied when asked how he felt about leaving Miami after leading the Heat to two NBA championships and four straight Eastern Conference titles.

James had captivated NBA fans for weeks over where he would play next season and he finally announced his decision in an carefully-worded essay published by Sports Illustrated.

But he had not spoken publicly about his decision until his arrival in Rio, which will host the next Summer Olympics in 2016.

James won gold medals for the United States at each of the past two Olympics and his experience playing alongside Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh at Beijing in 2008 was part of the reason he left Cleveland in 2010 to join them in Miami.

"As a friend and a team mate, I am sad to see my brother LeBron leave to begin a new journey," Wade said in a statement on July 13.

"In 2010, we decided to come together all for one goal - to win championships and we succeeded. We were friends when we first joined the league and created an unbreakable bond the past four years."

'Bigger than NBA finals'

James, who flew into Brazil from Miami overnight, did not address reports about the terms of his deal, which ESPN said was worth $42.1 million over two years.

According to ESPN, James...

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