Thousands of basketball fans cheered on LeBron James as he arrived in China as part of a Nike tour to promote sneaker sales.

This is the kind of greeting LeBron James can only hope for in Cleveland.

 When the NBA player encountered thousands of yelling fans in Beijing, China, he demonstrated why he is one of the most well-known sports figures in the world today.

 It was a part of a Nike campaign to boost basketball and shoe sales in the most populated country in the world.

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One fan even escaped the boundaries and gave James a hug in the frenzy to get a peek of the two-time NBA champion.

 The young man was seized and taken away by the superstar's security.

 'LBJ! LBJ!' yelled thousands of young fans as he showed up at a court on Monday.

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"The basketball game gets better every time I visit this place."  He addressed the audience, saying, "From the locals who are here to play the game to us NBA players who are here to continue inspiring these kids."

 "Dude, it's been fantastic."  The game has been growing ever since I arrived, from before the 2008 Beijing Olympics to the present, and I believe that's fantastic.

After four years with the Miami Heat, James made the unexpected announcement earlier this month that he was joining his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers.

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 In 2010, he announced his departure from the Cavaliers and 'took his talents to South Beach'.

 LeBron still has close links to the community he grew up in, Akron, Ohio.

 He is one of the most well-known athletes in America and a global celebrity due to his position as the NBA's biggest star.

 Basketball has been popular in China for a long time, as James indicated.

 Yao Ming, a 7-foot-6 Chinese superstar, helped the sport's popularity soar.