It’s possible Wednesday could be LeBron James’ final game in Cleveland.
The 41-year-old James hasn’t decided whether he’s going to retire after this season and his Lakers are about to play the Cavaliers at Rocket Arena for their only time this season.
James’ impact on Cleveland can be felt everywhere, including inside the Cavaliers’ locker room, where Donovan Mitchell hopes to follow in James’ footsteps.
“Just being here in Cleveland, you want to replicate what he did,” Mitchell told The California Post after scoring 45 points on 15-for-25 shooting in the Cavaliers’ 114-98 win over Orlando on Monday. “You want to win a championship. You see the love he got from the city. Obviously, he’s from here. But to see the love that I’m getting, that we’re getting as a team, it’s like, man, you want to be able to do that and achieve that.”
James, who was drafted by Cleveland as the No. 1 overall pick in 2003, took the Cavaliers to the Finals five times in his 11 seasons with the team, including four straight years from 2015-2018. He led the franchise to their only championship in their 55-year history in 2016.
James, who will become an unrestricted free agent after this season, hasn’t ruled out a return to Cleveland, which would bring his illustrious career full circle. “The door’s not closed on that,” he told The Athletic in 2022.
When Mitchell was asked if he’d be intrigued to share the court with James, he flashed a smile.
“That ain’t up to me,” Mitchell told The California Post. “That ain’t up to me. I’m focused on these guys in the locker room. And from that point, everything else kinda goes where it does. But that ain’t me. I’m focused on what we got here and I’m excited for that.”
James played for the Cavs from 2003 to 2010, before leaving for Miami in free agency, a decision which left fans heartbroken. He won two championships with the Heat before returning to Cleveland from 2014-2018 with the promise of lifting the Cavs to the mountaintop. After following through on his word, James went to the Lakers, where he won another championship in 2020 and has spent the last eight years of his career.
The path for James to return to Cleveland would be tricky.
An unrestricted free agent after this year, James, who’s earning $52.6 million this season, would either have to take a minimum deal. Or the franchise would have to offload money by breaking up their core of Mitchell, Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley and Darius Garland. That core won 64 games together last season and finished as the top seed in the East.
This season, the Cavaliers had a rocky start amid injuries, but they’ve seemingly turned things around, winning six of their last seven contests, including four straight. They’re in fifth place in the conference with a record of 28-20, only two games behind the second-place Celtics.
Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson said he couldn’t wait for James to return Wednesday, adding that it’s always a special occasion.
“I know Cavs fans will just celebrate him every game he plays,” he said. “Every game we get a chance to compete against him, compete in the same arena, it’s a celebration. I always felt like LeBron, as great as he is, he always played with class. He’s respectful of the team, respectful of his opponent, class act, great for the NBA, I can’t wait. It could be his last game here. He could also have four more years left. As great as he is, as great as he’s playing, who has done this?”
