NBA: Heat on for James

The NBA's reigning two-time MVP LeBron James has ended months of suspense by signing for Miami Heat.

In one of the most-publicised moves in sporting history, the former Cleveland Cavaliers star is to join Heat megastar Dwayne Wade, and recently-signed Chris Bosh, who comes over from the Toronto Raptors.

"This fall (autumn) I'm going to take my talents to South Beach, and join the Miami Heat", James said. "I feel like this gives me the best opportunity to win, and win for multiple years. I want to be able to win championships, and I feel that I can compete down there."

On the chance to play with Wade and Bosh - two of the biggest talents in the NBA - James said: "I never thought it was possible. But the things that the Miami Heat franchise have done to free up [salary] cap space and to be able to put themselves in position to have all three of us is hard to turn down. Those are two of the greatest players that we have in this game today, and you add me - we are going to be a really good team."

"It's not about sharing. It's about everyone having their own spotlight and then just doing what's best for the team. It's not about individuals here, it's about the team."

James said he is taking less money to play for Miami than he would have made had he stayed in Cleveland.

"I am not getting the max deal," he said. "The max deal would have been to stay in Cleveland, get the six years and get the 120 million dollars.

"The numbers are not finalised. All three of us are going to take less because we want to play alongside each other."

James was the youngest player to score 15,000 points and put up 40-point games in basketball's history, and led the Cavaliers to 60-win seasons in the 2008/9 and 2009/10 seasons.

"My heart in the seven years that I gave to that franchise and city was everything. They have seen me grow from an 18-year old kid to a 25-year old man and I never wanted to leave Cleveland, and my heart will always be in that area," said James.

However, this season the Cavaliers - who were considered title favourites at the start of the year - were dumped out of the play-offs by the Boston Celtics, who ended up winning the conference title.

He will play in a number six shirt instead of a number 23 so the NBA can finally retire Michael Jordan's jersey.

The former first round draft pick is the biggest star to become a free agent in almost 15 years. The last time there was this much hype surrounding a free agent player was when Shaquille O'Neal decided to join the Los Angeles Lakers in 1996.

James met with six clubs that hoped to sign him, comprising the Heat, Cleveland, Chicago Bulls, New Jersey Nets, New York Knicks and the Los Angeles Clippers.