NEW YORK, (Reuters) – LeBron James announced last night he was leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers to join Dwayne  Wade and Chris Bosh at the Miami Heat next season, ending one  of the biggest transfer sagas in U.S professional sports.

The NBA’s reigning Most Valuable Player, whose future has  been the subject of intense speculation in the United States,  finally revealed his plans in a special one-hour show broadcast  live on national television.

“This fall, man this is very tough, this fall this I am  going to take my talents to South Beach and join the Miami  Heat,” he said.

“I feel like this is going to give me the best opportunity  to win and to win for multiple years and not not only just to  win in the regular season … I want to be able to win  championships and I feel like I can compete down there.”

James had been with the Cavaliers since they recruited him  as the top pick in the 2003 NBA Draft but became a free agent  when his contract expired at the last of season, triggering a  rush of teams hoping to sign him up.

His decision came a day after Bosh announced he was leaving  the Toronto Raptors for Miami and Wade confirmed he had  re-signed with the Heat.