LeBron James still hasn’t announced where he’s headed in free agency, but a return to the Cleveland Cavaliers is emerging as the most likely outcome. Rival teams part of the James sweepstakes reportedly believe James might be returning to the Cavaliers, and if he does, it would be the second time he’s gone back home.
James had left the Cavaliers for the Miami Heat in 2010, but then returned in 2014, and some comments the Akron native made at the time have now resurfaced.
“I always believed that I’d return to Cleveland and finish my career there,” James said. “I just didn’t know when. After the season, free agency wasn’t even a thought. But I have two boys and my wife, Savannah, is pregnant with a girl. I started thinking about what it would be like to raise my family in my hometown. I looked at other teams, but I wasn’t going to leave Miami for anywhere except Cleveland. The more time passed, the more it felt right. This is what makes me happy.”
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All of this was said to Sports Illustrated’s Lee Jenkins in the famous “I’m coming back to Cleveland” article. This was how James announced his return to the Cavaliers. Does his saying then that he wants to finish his career with the team guarantee he’s heading there in 2026? No, but it shows his love for Cleveland.
James, whom the Cavaliers had selected with the No. 1 pick in the 2003 NBA Draft, also said at the end that this is what makes him happy. Well, it has been widely reported that happiness is what he’s seeking as he contemplates where to go next.
James had left the Cavaliers for the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018 and spent the next eight seasons with them. The 41-year-old no longer felt staying with the Lakers would give him happiness, though, and decided it was time to move on.
The Cavaliers were immediately brought up as a destination after that decision was made. James’ agent, Rich Paul, then included them when discussing potential landing spots for his client this summer. The Cavaliers and the Philadelphia 76ers were the teams that stood out the most.
James was also in Ohio last week and met up with his former St. Vincent–St. Mary teammates. Among them was Brandon Weems, assistant general manager of the Cavaliers. Paul had called Weems a big X-factor as he’s basically James’ brother. There’s just a lot of smoke here.
We won’t be finding out where James is going soon, though. Paul made it clear last week that the announcement won’t be made in the next few days.
James is going to take his time. If we go back to 2014, James had announced his return to the Cavaliers on July 11. It might be around then that we hear from him in 2026 as well.
James’ first return to the Cavaliers saw him lead the franchise to its first-ever NBA championship in 2016. It was Cleveland’s first sports title in 52 years. If James does go back, he’d be looking to bring another title to the city. He’d have plenty of help, too, in the form of Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen, and James Harden (who is expected to re-sign). They’d definitely be a serious title contender with James.
