LeBron felt Dan Gilbert's 2010 letter was tinged with racism

When LeBron James rejoined the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2014, some were surprised given Cavs owner Dan Gilbert's reaction to James' free-agent decampment for the Miami Heat four years earlier.

Gilbert's infamous Comic Sans letter, which slammed James for "a shocking act of disloyalty" in leaving Cleveland, was condemned by civil rights leaders like Jesse Jackson for its ownership connotations.

Seven years later, James admits he felt the rant had racial overtones.

"I did. I did," he told GQ's Mark Anthony Green. "It was another conversation I had to have with my kids. It was unfortunate because I believed in my heart that I had gave (Cleveland) and that owner, at that point in time, everything that I had."

James didn't score any public relations points at the time with "The Decision" TV special that announced his departure to the Heat, but he says the move was made solely for basketball reasons.

"Unfortunately, I felt like, at that point in time, as an organization, we could not bring in enough talent to help us get to what my vision was. A lot of people say they want to win, but they really don't know how hard it takes, or a lot of people don't have the vision. So, you know, I don't really like to go back on that letter, but it pops in my head a few times here, a few times there. I mean, it's just human nature. I think that had a lot to do with race at that time."

The relationship between James and Gilbert has been heavily scrutinized. James admitted in his 2014 return-to-Cleveland announcement that his wife Savannah was leery of the owner after the letter, and any new hint of animosity between superstar and team owner is sure to get the rumor mill humming.

James, after all, can opt out of his contract next summer.