With it being his first trip back to Cleveland since joining the Los Angeles Lakers over the summer, the Cavs decided to play a special tribute video for LeBron James during the first quarter of Wednesday night's game.

There were some who thought James would be boo'd once he stepped onto the court. Instead, he was given a hero's welcome. In fact, the crowd inside Quicken Loans Arena rose to their feet to cheer when his name was announced over the PA system for the first time.

James was taken aback by the dedication that the Cavs prepared for him. Near the end of the tribute video, the Akron native made his way to each corner of the floor to salute the fans inside the arena.

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“I appreciate these fans, just as much as they appreciate me,” James told ESPN after Wednesday's game. “Every single night we stepped on the floor, they always showed their appreciation to not only myself but to my teammates over these 11 years, especially the last four years — those championship runs that we were making. So that was just my salute to them for them appreciating what I was able to accomplish with my teammates and coaches along those four years.”

James logged 36 minutes against the Cavs on Wednesday night, scoring 32 points on 11-of-20 shooting from the field (2-of-6 from beyond the arc), 14 rebounds, seven assists and one steal. The Cavs were leading through the first half, but a late rally from the Lakers carried the day.

The Lakers will be back in action on Friday night, as they're scheduled to host the Utah Jazz. Tip-off inside the STAPLES Center is set for 10:30 p.m. EST with NBA TV having live broadcast coverage.