LeBron James has been given a hero’s welcome by the Cavs ahead of the Lakers’ matchup with them in Cleveland.

James, an Akron, Ohio native who led the franchise to its first and only championship in 2016, starred for the Cavs over 11 seasons after they selected him with the first overall pick in 2003.

And while feelings were badly hurt when he left for the Heat in 2010, things appear to be patched up between James and his hometown team.

As captured by ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, the Cavs put a picture of James with the 2016 championship trophy on a screen outside of the visitors’ locker room.

‘Welcome back LeBron!,’ the message read.

LeBron James last played in Cleveland on December 6 of last year, as his team lost

He won the Cavs their first and only championship in 2016 as they defeated the Warriors

James last played in Cleveland on December 6 of last year, as his 21 points, 17 rebounds and four assists were not enough to prevent the Lakers from losing.

The Cavs’ warm embrace of James is a stark departure from the mood following his ‘Decision’ to go play in South Beach.

After that move, team owner Dan Gilbert penned an open letter in which he called James’ departure a ‘cowardly betrayal.’

‘This shocking act of disloyalty from our home grown ‘chosen one’ sends the exact opposite lesson of what we would want our children to learn,’ he wrote. ‘And ‘who’ we would want them to grow-up to become.’

Fans were also seen burning James’ jersey after he chose to leave the franchise the first time.

However, after ‘The King”s Herculean effort to defeat the Warriors in 2016 – and the passage of time – the Cavs are evidently embracing their hometown star again.

James, 38, is averaging an astounding 25.7 points and 8.1 rebounds and 6.7 assists in his 21st season.