LeBron James becomes emotional during tribute video as Lakers compete against Cavaliers.

CLEVELAND — LeBron James always experiences a unique sentiment when he returns to Northeast Ohio.

The 41-year-old was particularly moved on Wednesday as the Los Angeles Lakers took on the Cleveland Cavaliers.

James became emotional during a timeout with 7:46 left in the first quarter when the Cavaliers displayed video highlights of him scoring 25 consecutive points in Game 5 of the 2007 Eastern Conference finals against the Detroit Pistons.

The Cavaliers triumphed in that match 109-107 in double overtime, gaining the series lead as James concluded the game with 48 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists. They subsequently defeated the Pistons in the following game in Cleveland, marking their first advancement to the NBA Finals.

After the video concluded, James used a towel to dry his eyes.

This marked the first occasion the Cavaliers have paid tribute to James by showcasing highlights from that particular game. Typically, they have featured clips from Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals, when Cleveland secured its inaugural championship, or moments from when the Akron native was selected as the first overall pick in the 2003 draft.

James had two separate tenures with the Cavs, totaling 11 seasons. He departed as a free agent in 2018 to join the Lakers.