Dan Gilbert and LeBron James met in Miami on Sunday, days before LeBron would announce his decision to return home to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
In the meeting, both men expressed regret over their actions in 2010.
According to Yahoo! Sports, Gilbert apologized for writing “The letter” following James’ departure to Miami. James apologized for his “The Decision” TV announcement.
“We had five great years together and one terrible night,” Gilbert told James, according to Yahoo! Sports. “I told him how sorry I was, expressed regret for how that night went and how I let all the emotion and passion for situation carry me away. I told him I wish had never done it, that I wish I could take it back.”
[Related: Dan Gilbert removes open letter to LeBron James after four years]
Gilbert told Yahoo! that James’ business partners, Maverick Carter and Rich Paul, helped make him feel comfortable about the situation and meeting, and lauded them for being “professional.”
And like he (partially) did in 2012, Gilbert said he regretted writing the letter.
“After a few months, I would re-read it and just be full of regret. That wasn’t me, that wasn’t who I am. I didn’t mean most of the things I said in there. The venom it produced, from all sides … I wish … I wish I had never done it,” Gilbert said of the letter to Yahoo!
Better for Gilbert to apologize now than not at all.
But you know what all this means? Those reports about Gilbert flying on his private jet to meet with LeBron in Miami on Sunday night were actually accurate all along! Learning that might be the best piece of information from this entire thing.
