Dan Gilbert Guarantees NBA Title before LeBron James Gets One in Miami

(myFOXDetroit.com Staff Reports) - Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert guaranteed that the Cavs would win an NBA title before LeBron James does in an open letter to fans posted on the team's Web site .

James, who spent the past seven seasons in Cleveland, announced that he would leave his hometown team to join DeWayne Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami this season.

"I personally guaranteed that the Cleveland Cavaliers will win an NBA championship before the self-titled former 'King' wins one," Gilbert wrote.

The Quicken Loans Chairman and Michigan State University grad also hinted that the team would tell fans about 'the events of the recent past,' alluding to the courting of James, the NBA's most prized free agent this offseason. "You simply don't deserve this kind of cowardly betrayal. You have given so much and deserve so much more."

James was criticized by fans for quitting on his former team during a second round playoff loss to the Boston Celtics in May.

Read the entire statement here >>

Gilbert purchased the Cavs in 2005.

Click the video player to hear reaction from WCSX's Jamie Samuelsen .