LeBron James Mural In Cleveland Comes Down

CLEVELAND, OH — For four years, the iconic image of LeBron James, hands stretched out, Cleveland stitched on his back, has greeted visitors to downtown. On Tuesday, the mural will come down.

James signed with the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday night, ending his second tenure with the Cavaliers. He re-joined the team in 2014, won a title in 2016, and went to the NBA Finals each year that he was back in Cleveland.

During his run of unparalleled success, the mural became a must-see for tourists and a selfie spot for locals. Soon, the mural will come down and all that will be left is a brick facade, according to News 5.

Sherwin-Williams owns that mural space. The company said it is evaluating replacement options. Undoubtedly, whatever goes up will not hold the same gravitational pull as the James mural.

Still, when James departed Cleveland the first time, in 2010, the mural site became a venting ground for the rage of fans in Northeast Ohio. Burnt jerseys and jeers could be smelled and heard throughout Greater Cleveland, and the mural became a site of cathartic shouting. No such anger fills the hearts of most Clevelanders now.

Instead, after James delivered a much-needed title to Cleveland in 2016, there is a sense of resigned acceptance to the forward's leaving. His westward journey seems expected.

But the mural must come down. And what will take its place? Time will tell.

An earlier version of this story said the mural would come down on Monday.

Photo from Rick Uldricks, Patch