When LeBron James left the Cavaliers in 2018, nobody imagined he would ever return.
After returning to fulfill a promise, he moved on after 4 years to join the Lakers in Los Angeles, a place he could build up his off-court empire.
But now, James is hinting that a return to Cleveland isn’t off the table after all. Here’s what he said in a chat with The Athletic:
Now the only question is whether another picture could go up there again some day. Could James actually return to Cleveland and play for the Cavaliers a third time?
“The door’s not closed on that,” James told The Athletic Saturday following the East’s team practice on the campus of Cleveland State. “I’m not saying I’m coming back and playing, I don’t know. I don’t know what my future holds. I don’t even know when I’m free.”
James, of course, is a free agent after next season. He is tethered to the Lakers for one more year.
James celebrated his 37th birthday in December. This season is his 19th in the NBA.
On the court, James has shown no signs of slowing down. He’s averaging 29.1 points per game (his best mark since 2010) on 52% shooting.
Unfortunately, the Lakers haven’t been having the same success. They’ve struggled to stay competitive all season long and look destined for an early playoff exit.
Meanwhile, the Cavs are beaming with talent and sit at 4th in the East. As presently constructed, they could offer LeBron a better chance to win than the Lakers can.
So as James looks ahead to the final years of his career, it is understandable why he’d look to Cleveland as a potential landing spot. Even he cannot deny his interest in that outcome anymore.
For now, all we can do is wait and see how it all turns out, and if LeBron heads home one last time before hanging up his jersey for good.
