As a homegrown megastar considered one of the two greatest players of all time, it’s clear how much LeBron James’ roots still mean to him.
He says he’s “just a kid from Akron” as he reaches his biggest milestones, including winning his fourth championship with the Lakers and becoming the league’s all-time leading scorer in 2023.
As speculation swirls about James and where he “chooses” to play next season as his career comes to an end, a reunion in Cleveland could be the storybook ending.
Built around All-NBA guard Donovan Mitchell and rising star Evan Mobley, the Cavs have a roster talented enough to make it to the NBA Finals. Darius Garland is close to returning from injury but found his rhythm on offense and Jarrett Allen remains one of the best edge defenders in the game.
James, an unrestricted free agent at the end of this year who is making $52.6 million this season, would either have to take a minimum deal or the franchise would have to fire money, breaking up the core of Mitchell, Allen, Mobley and Garland, who combined to win 64 games on their way to the No. 1 seed in the East last season.
Would James agree to a minimum deal? If not, should the Cavs consider trading two of their stars and sacrificing their futures for a year of potential greatness with him? If James was willing to accept a minimum deal, would his return be a distraction for an emerging team?
While the finances can be ironed out, one wonders how Cavs Nation would feel about James returning for his swan song?
But after two divorces — none worse than the first — would Cavs fans be willing to get married for a third time? Even if it was only for one year?
From the dozens of fans The California Post spoke to at Rocket Arena before the Cavaliers hosted Magic Monday night, it’s clear there’s unanimous love and respect for James, but that’s where the similar mentality ends.
“I think it would ruin the chemistry we have,” said fan Matt Hands. “Is it a distraction? Does it take away from what they’re trying to build if he doesn’t have more than a year left? Potential.”
Hands, a 41-year-old professor at John Carroll University, said he would like to see James return on a one-day contract and technically retire from the Cavs, but he would not want him to play another season with the team.
He is far from the only fan who thinks this way.
Kevin Smith, a 35-year-old who works as a capacity planner for Sysco, fears James wouldn’t accept a minimum deal and the Cavs would have to split their team. “We’ve finally rebuilt since the last time he left,” he said. “Do we really want to ruin that just for a sweet goodbye?”
Then there’s Katie Swanson-Harbage, a 73-year-old who only cares about what’s best for James, and she guesses that doesn’t mean she has to live in Ohio. “Would you like to live in this snow or would you rather live in LA?” she asked.
Meanwhile, Brandon Baker, a 42-year-old who works in politics, believes James’ return is inevitable.
“I expect this to happen,” he said. “We know LeBron likes storybooks and fairytales. That’s what happened the first time he came back [in 2014]so where else would he end his career but in Cleveland?”
For some, it doesn’t matter, as long as James is back where he belongs next year.
Shanice Cheatham, a 38-year-old medical student born in Akron, said James retiring to Cleveland would mean the world to her and her community.
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“For Akron, LeBron is the kid who got out of there,” Cheatham said. “Akron has its really rough spots and we haven’t seen much come out of it. To have someone come this far and be such a solid, well-rounded role model, it’s a dream come true for someone from Akron. I just signed up for season tickets hoping he would come back. Literally, today.”
That sentiment was echoed by Aidan Dance, a 26-year-old roofing company representative, who summed up his feelings in three words. “That’s my hero.” Dance said his devotion to James is so deep that as a child he would cry when the Cavs lost. And as he’s gotten older, he said his respect for James has only grown after seeing what he’s done for the community, his spotless reputation and how he treats his wife and children.
“He’s one of us,” Dance said. “It’s all about LeBron James. He has meant everything to this city. He has given this city hope when we didn’t have it. Even our economy is better when LeBron James is here. He is literally everything to this city. If he came back, I would be a grown man crying again.”
As the basketball world awaits James’ decision on his playing career, there’s a chance it could end where it all began: Cleveland.
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