Could LeBron Come Home Again? Cavaliers Reportedly Open to Reunion with the King
The door in Cleveland isn’t just open - it might be getting polished, red carpet rolled out, and the welcome mat dusted off. According to sources, the Cavaliers would be more than willing to entertain a third act with LeBron James if the four-time MVP decides to leave Los Angeles this summer.
LeBron, now deep into his unprecedented 23rd NBA season, has yet to tip his hand about what comes next. Retirement?
Another run with the Lakers? A return to the city where it all began?
All options appear to be on the table. What’s clear is that his contract with the Lakers is set to expire at season’s end, and while he’s said he hasn’t made a decision about his future, the speculation is only heating up.
Since signing with L.A. in 2018 - a four-year, $153.5 million deal that marked the end of his second stint in Cleveland - James has delivered both highlights and headaches for the Lakers. His crowning achievement in purple and gold came in 2020, when he led the franchise to its 17th championship inside the Orlando bubble. But the years since have been less kind: three first-round playoff exits and a 2023 conference finals sweep at the hands of the Denver Nuggets have left the Lakers searching for answers.
And it’s not just on the court where questions linger. Talks between James and the Lakers on a contract extension stalled last summer. A report earlier this month suggested some frustration from Lakers governor Jeanie Buss regarding James’ presence and influence in recent years - though Buss quickly denied those claims, and LeBron, in typical fashion, brushed them off.
So, if the Lakers’ future with James is murky, could a return to Cleveland offer clarity?
It’s hard to overstate what LeBron means to the Cavaliers - and to the city of Cleveland. He’s not just a hometown hero from Akron.
He’s the architect of the franchise’s greatest era, the man who delivered the city’s first and only NBA championship in 2016 by leading a historic comeback against the 73-win Golden State Warriors. That Finals performance - overcoming a 3-1 deficit, delivering iconic moments like The Block, The Shot, and The Stop - cemented his legacy not just in Cleveland sports lore, but in NBA history.
LeBron’s second stint with the Cavs (2014-2018) saw four straight Finals appearances, all against the Warriors, and extended his personal Finals streak to eight consecutive years - a run that began with the Miami Heat in 2011. In total, he’s spent 11 seasons with the Cavaliers since being drafted first overall in 2003, and his fingerprints are all over the franchise record books. He leads the organization in games played (849), points (23,119), rebounds (6,190), assists (6,228), steals (1,376), and triple-doubles (64).
That kind of legacy doesn’t fade. And with the Cavaliers emerging as a young, competitive squad with playoff aspirations, the idea of LeBron returning as a veteran presence - or even just to write the final chapter of his career where it all began - is more than just a sentimental notion. It’s a real possibility.
Of course, the final decision rests with LeBron. He’s always moved on his own terms, and he’s earned that right. Whether his journey takes him back to Cleveland, stays in L.A., or heads in an entirely new direction, one thing is certain: the basketball world will be watching.
But if he does decide to come home, the Cavaliers sound ready to welcome him with open arms - and maybe a statue waiting in the wings.