CLEVELAND (AP) — LeBron James sat courtside like a fan in an arena he made famous.
His postseason over for weeks, James was back home in Ohio and watched Monday night's playoff game between the Cavaliers and Boston Celtics, an appearance certain to drive conversation about the superstar's future.
James, who can opt out of his contact with the Los Angeles Lakers and become a free agent this summer, arrived in Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse just as Game 4 began. He took a seat across from Boston's bench next to his wife, Savannah, and agent Rich Paul.
During a timeout in the first quarter, James received a thunderous ovation when shown on the giant scoreboard during a timeout. He acknowledged the roaring crowd and then King James mimicked placing a crown on his head.
He left in the closing minutes as the Celtics w rapped up a 109-102 win to take a 3-1 lead in the series.
James played two stints in Cleveland and led the Cavs to their only NBA championship in 2016 before leaving two years later. There has been speculation about another reunion, but the 39-year-old has been adamant that he's leaving all his options open.
The league's career scoring leader, James has maintained a home near his hometown of Akron. He's come back to Cleveland many times since leaving in 2018, but has not attended any Cavs games.
James had a short postseason this year as the Lakers were eliminated in the first round by the defending champion Denver Nuggets. James made it clear following the series that he's made no firm decisions about his next move.
James has talked in the past about playing alongside his oldest son, Bronny, who played at USC last season and recently declared for this year's draft.
On Monday, the younger James was cleared by the league's doctors to participate in the pre-draft combine in Chicago after going into cardiac arrest last summer.
James is a 20-time All-Star, four-time league MVP and champion. He was drafted No. 1 overall by Cleveland and spent seven seasons with the Cavs before signing as a free agent with Miami in 2010.
He returned to the Cavs in 2014 and led them to four consecutive NBA Finals appearances — all against Golden State.
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Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, left, acknowledges the crowd during the first half of Game 4 of an NBA basketball second-round playoff series between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Boston Celtics, Monday, May 13, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Dermer)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James smiles during the first half of Game 4 of an NBA basketball second-round playoff series between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics, Monday, May 13, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Dermer)
FILE - Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, left, poses with his son Bronny after Sierra Canyon defeated Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary in a high school basketball game Dec. 14, 2019, in Columbus, Ohio. NBA teams were told Monday, May 13, 2024, that Bronny James, the son of the Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James, has been medically cleared to play in the league and is expected to participate in the draft combine this week, a person with knowledge of the matter told The Associated Press. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete, File)
BARNSLEY, Ky. (AP) — Strong storms with damaging winds and baseball-sized hail pummeled Texas on Tuesday, leaving more than 1 million businesses and homes without power as much of the U.S. recovered from severe weather, including tornadoes, that killed at least 25 people during the Memorial Day holiday weekend.
Widespread outages were reported in north Texas, which includes Dallas and Fort Worth, where an oppressive, early-season heat wave added to the misery.
More than 300,000 customers in Dallas County alone lacked electricity Tuesday as the outages extended into rural east Texas, according to PowerOutage.us.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.
BARNSLEY, Ky. (AP) — Devin Johnson's life was uprooted for a second time when a tornado flattened his home over the Memorial Day weekend — on the same lot in Kentucky where another twister left him homeless in 2021.
Johnson, 21, watched Tuesday as workers used chain saws to cut into the wreckage of the trailer he called home with his grandparents and girlfriend. It was an all-too-familiar scene for his family.
Their previous home in the tiny western Kentucky community of Barnsley was destroyed by another tornado during a terrifying night of storms in December 2021 that killed 81 people in the Bluegrass State.
“We never thought that it would happen again,” Johnson said.
Amid all the uncertainty as they start over again, there's one thing they've decided on, he said.
“All we know for sure is we’re not going back here,” Johnson said. "It’s going to have so many memories of us losing everything.”
Barnsley was hit on Sunday by a powerful tornado that packed winds up to 165 mph (266 kph) and tore a destructive path across nearly 36 miles (58 kilometers) of Kentucky, the National Weather Service said.
The region was hit by multiple rounds of severe storms, and damage survey teams were assessing the destruction to determine how many tornadoes touched down. Another powerful storm Sunday barely missed the city of Mayfield, where a painstaking recovery continues from a tornado that hit the town in 2021.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency from the Sunday storms and reported five deaths statewide. The governor toured storm-stricken areas of western Kentucky on Monday.
In Barnsley, the tornado tore through a section of the storm-weary community. A home next to Johnson's trailer was leveled, another was knocked off its foundation and the roof was ripped off another home.
Johnson's family fled before the tornado hit, taking refuge with a relative in nearby Madisonville. Watching weather alerts as the storm barreled toward Barnsley, they had a sinking feeling, he said.
“We just all had that feeling that we just lost everything again,” he said.
Later as he drove back home, emergency vehicles rushed past him. When he turned the corner into his neighborhood, “there was just nothing” as he approached his family's lot.
In 2021, Johnson's family rode out the storm in their trailer. With no basement, Johnson hunkered down in the kitchen, desperately clinging to a table with his grandparents, his sister and her boyfriend. His uncle and aunt put a mattress over themselves in the hallway.
“You start hearing a roar and then the entire house started shaking," he recalled. "The power started flickering and the windows just shattered. And then all of sudden you just feel the wind and pressure and this roar just ripping through the house and it starts tugging on you and trying to drag you out.”
They all emerged unhurt, but the trailer was destroyed. From the wreckage they salvaged some belongings — including a beloved statue of Jesus and Mary that his grandmother had for decades, Johnson said. They recovered some family mementos, including photos.
Johnson's family furnished their new trailer in stages once they scraped together enough money, he said. But after the latest twister, the family's home and belongings were strewn across the neighborhood.
“This time, everything that we have is gone,” he said.
Later in the day, they found an engagement ring that had belonged to his girlfriend's grandmother.
"It’s very meaningful to her because it’s the last memory she has of her grandma,” he said.
His family was insured both times when tragedy struck. But their situation is just as dire as the first time.
“Right now we have no money," Johnson said. "So we’re just trying to figure out how to go next.”
He's staying at a motel in Madisonville, with relatives helping with the expenses.
The plan is to move to Madisonville. He and his girlfriend have put away money since the 2021 storm in hopes of getting their own place, but for now they'll likely live with his grandparents, he said. Johnson has a warehouse job in Madisonville and his girlfriend works at a local factory.
"It’s just been so tight since then with all the bills we had to go through,” he said.
Having seen the immense force of tornadoes, he's longing for a home with a basement.
“We know the power that they’re capable of and how easily they can just take your life,” he said.
Schreiner reported from Frankfort, Kentucky.
Haley found her grandmother's engagement ring in the rubble. It's very meaningful to her because it's the last memory she has of her grandma." It was passed to her after her grandmother passed away.
This time, they may have lost everything.
The trailer was shattered into pieces that the storm tossed into a neighbor's yard across the street. Other homes nearby were also flattened. Chainsaws going. workers collecting debris.
Workers used chainsaws to cut the remnants of Johnson';s home into smaller pieces to be removed. Johnson was watching.
other structures nearby were flattened.
He was living with his grandparents in '21.
Found an terntainment center.
The home site where the Johnson family home is seen along Barnley Loop, Tuesday, May 28, 2024, in Madisonville, Ky. The mobile home as demolished after a series of powerful storms hit the central and southern U.S. over the Memorial Day holiday weekend. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Haley Loukota, searches for her belongings among storm debris along Barnsley Loop, Tuesday, May 28, 2024, in Madisonville, Ky. Her home was demolished after a series of powerful storms hit the central and southern U.S. over the Memorial Day holiday weekend. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Jesse Johnson, left, and Haley Loukota, right, celebrate as they find their belongings at their demolished home along Barnsley Loop, Tuesday, May 28, 2024, in Madisonville, Ky. A series of powerful storms hit the central and southern U.S. over the Memorial Day holiday weekend. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Haley Loukota, smiles as she finds her grandmother's wedding rings after they were located among storm debris along Barnsley Loop, Tuesday, May 28, 2024, in Madisonville, Ky. Her home was demolished after series of powerful storms hit the central and southern U.S. over the Memorial Day holiday weekend. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
A home demolished by severe weather is seen along Barnsley Loop, Tuesday, May 28, 2024, in Madisonville, Ky. A series of powerful storms hit the central and southern U.S. over the Memorial Day holiday weekend. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Haley Loukota, right, hands family photos to to Lois Johnson after they were found in storm debris along Barnsley Loop, Tuesday, May 28, 2024, in Madisonville, Ky. A series of powerful storms hit the central and southern U.S. over the Memorial Day holiday weekend. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Haley Loukota, looks over family photographs found among storm debris from her demolished home along Barnsley Loop, Tuesday, May 28, 2024, in Madisonville, Ky. A series of powerful storms hit the central and southern U.S. over the Memorial Day holiday weekend. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Devin Johnson uses his phone where his house once stood along Barnsley Loop, Tuesday, May 28, 2024, in Madisonville, Ky. A series of powerful storms hit the central and southern U.S. over the Memorial Day holiday weekend. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Haley Loukota, left, and her fiance Devin Johnson collect their belongings from storm debris after their home was demolished along Barnsley Loop, Tuesday, May 28, 2024, in Madisonville, Ky. A series of powerful storms hit the central and southern U.S. over the Memorial Day holiday weekend. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
