CLEVELAND (AP) - LeBron James is coming back to Ohio for his first NBA game since splitting this summer to play in Florida.
King James won't get the usual royal treatment.
"It's going to be 10 times worse than when Carlos Boozer came back," said Milwaukee's Drew Gooden, who played four seasons in Cleveland. "I think 20,000 fans are going to have headaches from booing."
Indeed, the Cleveland fans are going to let him hear it. But the Cavaliers want to make sure that's all they're doing.
To ensure the safety of players and fans, and ease concerns about potential trouble, the team is beefing up security in and around Quicken Loans Arena for James' hyped return on Dec. 2 with Miami, a game Cleveland fans have eagerly awaited since July when the two-time league MVP famously announced his decision to join the Heat.
"We want to make people feel safe coming to the game," Cavaliers spokesman Tad Carper said.
And that includes James.
The Cavaliers have been working with the league and city officials since the NBA's schedule was released in August. The main goal is to provide a secure environment for everyone without compromising the inherent advantage Cleveland has in playing at home.
The team is asking its fans to refrain from wearing any profane or vulgar clothing directed at James or his family, and any obscene signs will be confiscated.
However, that doesn't mean the Cavaliers are telling folks not to express their opinions toward the superstar forward or the Heat.
There will be uniformed police as well as undercover officers stationed near Miami's bench and along the tunnel area leading to the visitor's locker room.
Instead of serving plastic beer bottles, vendors will pour beverages into cups to prevent anyone from using the containers as projectiles.