LeBron James faces one obvious problem to join Heat

Even though he spent eight years in Los Angeles, most fans will probably remember LeBron James more for his days with the Miami Heat.

Heat LeBron was the best LeBron. He was in his prime, played nearly all five spots and finally won his first NBA championship. As such, it makes sense that now with Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Heat want to lure James back to South Beach.

However, as much as that could help James win another championship, ESPN pundit Stephen A. Smith believes it might not help his legacy. Talking on his podcast, he explained how he'd only be doing Pat Riley a favor.

LeBron James won't help his legacy if he signs with the Heat

“Here’s the biggest issue. If LeBron James goes to Miami and helps them win in Miami, Pat Riley gets the credit,” Smith argued.  “It’s Pat that went out and got Giannis and then LeBron. It’s Pat Riley that elevated the Miami Heat to prominence yet again. It’s Pat Riley, the champion as a player, the champion as a coach, the champion as an executive, that has pulled it off again in his 80s. It’s Pat Riley who will have done all of that.”

Smith argued that, given the narrative already surrounding Riley, James would only be another trophy for his cabinet.

“LeBron is just the latest player he acquired to help elevate their franchise and the Pat Riley mystique,” Smith added. 

That makes sense to a degree, and while most players wouldn't care about this, James is all about narratives and public perception, especially after his infamous "Decision."

Moreover, things reportedly didn't end well between James, Riley and head coach Erik Spoelstra, so that's another factor to consider in this pursuit. James shouldn't take much longer to make his decision, and all things considered, it's hard to envision returning to the same team he left on bad terms.