Charles Oakley Takes Major Shot at Cavaliers After LeBron James Joins 76ers

Former NBA star Charles Oakley took a major shot at the Cleveland Cavaliers after LeBron James signed with the Philadelphia 76ers instead of coming home. 

Oakley, who was born and raised in Cleveland, told TMZ Sports that the Cavaliers don't have a good team and the organization needs to hold itself accountable for not getting LeBron. 

Many people who cover the NBA thought LeBron would return to the Cavaliers this summer, but the basketball legend shocked the sports world by signing a two-year, $8 million deal with the 76ers. 

Cleveland thought LeBron would come home to play with Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. 

Instead, LeBron is now teammates with Joel Embiid, Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe in Philly.

It's too bad we won't get to see LeBron play for Cleveland again. The King said the 76ers will be his last stop in the NBA. 

"This is my last decision," LeBron wrote on social media. "I’m not going for money. I’m not going for family. What am I really playing for at this point? I still want to sacrifice. I still want to work. I still want to grind. I still want to compete, to win and to have a chance at the feeling of winning another championship.

“I believe I can help make the Philadelphia 76ers a championship team and I am so excited to energize a new fan base and start this incredible journey one last time. Thank you LA. Miami I’ll forever love and Northeast Ohio will always home!”

In two stints (2003-10, 2014-18) with the Cavaliers, LeBron averaged 27.2 points, 7.3 rebounds, 7.3 assists, 1.6 steals and 0.8 blocks per game. He won two MVPs and one Finals MVP and made 10 All-Star and 10 All-NBA teams.

LeBron led the Cavaliers to the 2016 championship against the 73-9 Golden State Warriors. The 2015-16 Cleveland squad is the only team in NBA history to erase a 3-1 series deficit in the NBA Finals. 

The Cavaliers lost to the New York Knicks in the 2026 Eastern Conference Finals in four games. They will now re-sign Harden and attempt to sign Jonathan Kuminga, who played for the Golden State Warriors and Atlanta Hawks last season.  

For what it's worth, Kenny Atkinson coached Kuminga in Golden State.