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VIDEO: Heat play video tribute to LeBron James during return to Miami

Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

LeBron James made his long-anticipated return to Miami on Thursday, receiving a warm response from the Heat faithful.

The crowd gave James a somewhat tepid, albeit largely positive, cheer when he was introduced during the starting lineups, and then he and Dwyane Wade embraced before tip-off. Both of those moments were nice, but it was during a first-quarter break in play that things really got emotional.

The Heat played the following tribute video for James, leading to an overwhelming ovation that James acknowledged with a raised hand afterward.

That's about as good as tributes come, and even if some Miami fans felt slighted with James returning to Cleveland this summer, it's impossible to argue the tribute wasn't well deserved. After all, James helped lead the Heat to the NBA Finals in each of his four seasons with Miami, including championships in 2012 and 2013.

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