Many are excited to witness the new-look Los Angeles Lakers compete during the 2025-26 season, but could the organization lose a pivotal contributor before the year begins?
A popular ESPN analyst recently predicted that the Lakers’ star forward could leave Los Angeles to reunite with the Cleveland Cavaliers to end his remarkable NBA career.
“But getting specifically to LeBron (James) — it has got to the point, where I think it warrants it bro: why don’t you just come back to Cleveland and end your career?” ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith said Friday.
“This cannot be disputed: he’d have a better chance to win in Cleveland than he would in L.A. The road through the Western Conference is arduous to say the least.”
“If LeBron James came back to Cleveland, you’re the favorites to come out of the East,” Smith said. “You bring the ‘chip back to Cleveland, and you say goodbye. Five-time champion, tying Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, and the crew.”
If James were to demand a trade this offseason, he would likely see him force his way back to his first NBA home.
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Despite leaving the Cavaliers twice in his career, it wouldn’t be out of bounds to suggest he still has a solid relationship with the organization.
Considering James returned to Cleveland after shockingly bolting for the Miami Heat in 2010 and played heroic basketball during the 2016 NBA Finals (which resulted in the Cavaliers winning their first-ever championship), negativity shouldn’t get tossed in the former lottery pick’s direction.
As Smith alluded to, the Eastern Conference is primed for a down year due to various injuries and roster changes, which would likely give Cleveland an edge over the opposition with the acquisition of James.
James averaged 24.4 points, 8.2 assists, and 7.8 rebounds per game at age 40 last season, shooting 51.3% from the field and 37.6% from three.
James could soon headline one of the most captivating feel-good stories in NBA history.
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