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Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James. David Richard-Imagn Images

Could LeBron James return to Cleveland next season?

By Sean Keane | Last updated Jan 29, 2026 6:39 PM ET

LeBron James returned to Cleveland Wednesday night as the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Los Angeles Lakers, 129-99. It was his only visit of the 2025-26 season, but the Cavs could be seeing him a lot more next season.

James will be an unrestricted free agent in 2026 and his current team seems poised to move forward centered around Luka Doncic. There's no guarantee the NBA's all-time scoring leader will leave the Lakers, or even play next season, but the Cavs might be James' best alternative.

Los Angeles Lakers aren't centered around LeBron James

While he's still playing well at age 41 (22 points, 6.7 assists per game), it's clear that LeBron James is no longer the primary focus of the Lakers organization. The Lakers didn't offer him an extension last summer, months after they traded James' best friend on the team and fellow Klutch Sports client, Anthony Davis. A recent investigative report by ESPN's Baxter Holmes revealed that team governor Jeanie Buss had grown tired of James' "oversized ego."

That means James can become a free agent after this season. A midseason trade is unlikely, given that James makes $52.6M and the Lakers are still fifth in the Western Conference. But in the summer, James and the Lakers might well part ways, and Cleveland is one of the few destinations that make sense for James.

He clearly still has affection for his old home, tearing up when the Cavaliers played a tribute video for him in the third quarter Wednesday.

pic.twitter.com/uJkKhgtHZ4
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) January 29, 2026

It would be James' third go-around with the Cavaliers, having departed in free agency in 2010 and returned to play four seasons 2014-18 and win the Cavaliers first-ever title in 2016. It's near James' hometown of Akron and would offer him both a chance to return home and a chance to win his fifth NBA title.

LeBron James could push the Cavs over the top

The Cavaliers aren't just an ideal fit for James because of history and geography. They also fit the profile of successful James teams in the past, which tend to thrive with another primary scorer, solid interior defense and lots of outside shooting.

That's very much the Cavs, who have a great scorer in Donovan Mitchell and the reigning Defensive Player of the Year in Evan Mobley. Young Jaylon Tyson is an emerging three-and-D wing and even apologized to James for any disrespect from when he said Cleveland was "Donovan Mitchell's city now."

The Cavs would need to make moves to clear space for James, like letting Lonzo Ball's contract expire and finding a new home for De'Andre Hunter, but the structure is there.

James would probably need to take a pay cut, and arrange a sign-and-trade with the Lakers, but none of those are unreasonable. If the Lakers are ready to move forward with the Luka Doncic era and James is still moved to tears by his memories of the Cavs, then King James very well could end his career the same place it started.

Sean Keane

Sean Keane is a sportswriter and a comedian based in Oakland, California, with experience covering the NBA, MLB, NFL and Ice Cube’s three-on-three basketball league, The Big 3. He’s written for Comedy Central’s “Another Period,” ESPN the Magazine, and Audible. com

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