“I’m not sure I made the right decision to come here” – When LeBron cried to a close friend over his move to Miami originally appeared on Basketball Network.
There wasn’t a hint of regret or sorrow in LeBron James when he swore to lead the Miami Heat to multiple NBA championships in 2010. However, less than a month after making his debut with the South Beach outfit, James failed to hold his emotions any longer and broke down.
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It was already the wee hours when LBJ stepped out of his room in some fancy hotel in Miami and drove straight to the house of Randy Mims, his longtime friend and confidant. Mims still vividly recalls how James cried to him over doubts about his decision to play for the Heat on the hood of his burgundy Bentley.
“I’m coming over,” Mims recalled James telling him that night. “I need to talk to you. I’m not sure I’m doing this right. I’m not sure I made the right decision to come here.”
Understandably, Randy couldn’t offer anything else to his broken friend but encouragement. He uplifted LeBron and reassured him that everything would be alright.
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“You got this, man,” Mims told James. “We’re going to figure this whole thing out. I get it. It’s a little new for you.”
LeBron’s mind wasn’t at peace after The Decision
In an interview with ESPN, James talked about his meltdown at Mims’ house. Admittedly, Bron was being bothered by the backlash and drama caused by his decision to take his talents to South Beach at the time.
LeBron knew he was a grown man, but he wasn’t mature enough to deal with such immense and constant pressure. He needed someone to remind him that he was stronger than he thought he was. Fortunately for James, Mims was very willing and able to be that person.
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“It was just a lot of s—t that was just going on in my head,” James told ESPN of that night. “I was still young. … I was questioning myself. I know I probably startled the f—k out of him at like three o’clock, four o’clock in the morning. I pulled up, and I told him to come outside, and I literally sat on the hood of my car. He came out and we just talked things through.”
“I needed him in that moment and he came through for me,” LeBron said of Mims.
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LeBron quickly got over it
If there was someone who wouldn’t let James succumb to dejection and confusion when he was at the pinnacle of success, that would probably be none other than Mims.
Randy witnessed how LeBron fought through every obstacle that came his way since the day he was drafted out of high school.
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For him, what Bron was experiencing mentally and emotionally after he moved to Miami wasn’t the type of problem that would derail King James from achieving undeniable greatness.
For his part, LeBron fed off Randy’s positivity. LBJ went on and did what he came to Miami to do — dominate and win.
“The rest is history. From there, [LeBron] he took off. We never had them conversations again,” Mims reflected.
James’ first-year stats with the Heat didn’t show that he was mentally and emotionally stressed. He averaged 26.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, seven assists and 1.6 steals in 79 regular-season games and led the Heat to the Finals that year.
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LeBron went on to play three more successful years with the Heat, winning two NBA titles in the process. To this day, Mims is still there for James to ensure he always gets the support he needs in his journey.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Aug 8, 2025, where it first appeared.