LeBron James returning to the Cleveland Cavaliers has been talked about ever since he left the franchise in 2018 to join the Los Angeles Lakers. The possibility of a return has only strengthened after Luka Doncic revealed he wants to end his career with a team other than the Lakers.
It has been a momentous summer for Luka Doncic. He is now the centerpiece star of the league's most glamorous franchise, a celebrity in the midst of Hollywood. The Lakers organization made it clear this summer that they are building the roster, now and moving forward, around Doncic. When he advocated that they add a center, they went out and got Deandre Ayton. When he pitched bringing on Marcus Smart, suddenly the onetime Celtics guard was signing.
LeBron James, on the other hand, has been moved to the edge in L.A. He obviously remains one of the league's biggest and most marketable stars, but at age 40, the Lakers made the decision not to simply hand over everything LeBron wanted. That included a new maximum contract, which means for the first time in a very long time, LeBron is on a true expiring deal.
Part of Doncic's ascension this summer has included a media tour. He has appeared on broadcasts, on talk shows, and done a number of interviews. The latest such interview was with Jason Gay of The Wall Street Journal. In a wide-ranging piece that touched on everything from the Lakers' season to Doncic's workout regimen to his acting career, things briefly touched on his upbringing.
Doncic grew up in Slovenia but joined Spanish powerhouse club Real Madrid at the age of 13. Over the next six years, he blossomed into a star, winning three titles with Real and leading them to a EuroLeague championship as a teenager, winning the tournament MVP award as the best player among the best teams outside of the US. It was a clear sign of his pending NBA greatness.
Gay asked Doncic whether he would like to return to Real Madrid before his career was over and help them to win another championship. The Lakers star was direct in his reply: "For sure."
LeBron James is facing a decision
While the Lakers will one day have to deal with that reality, as Doncic is many years removed from making end-of-career decisions, they have to deal with a different one this year. Will LeBron James remain on the team for the entire season? Will he walk away next summer? The franchise is preparing as if he is no longer in their plans for 2026-27.
Where will LeBron James go? He could retire at the age of 41, which is what most actual humans would do. LeBron, however, is still a Top-15 player in the league, and he will end his career on his terms. Could he come back to the Cleveland Cavaliers before things are done? Can he walk out the dream that Doncic has and help his first professional team win another title?
LeBron already did that in one way, returning in 2014 and bringing the franchise's first championship in 2016. To come back on a minor deal, however, and join a contending team as a support player, not the alpha and omega, would be an entirely different story. But it would be the full-circle moment his career deserves.
Perhaps LeBron will get his storybook ending with the Cavaliers. Perhaps Luka Doncic will get one with Real Madrid. Perhaps other stars around the NBA will start to follow suit and return to their first teams before the end.
The King belongs in Cleveland. The chances of a return are ticking up by the day.