LeBron James becomes an unrestricted free agent this offseason. Will he return to the Cleveland Cavaliers?
Iman Shumpert told TMZ Sports that LeBron James finishing his NBA career with the Cleveland Cavaliers would be "the coolest story."
James becomes an unrestricted free agent this offseason for the first time since 2018. If the future Hall of Famer doesn't reitre from the NBA, he's widely expected to either re-sign with the Los Angeles Lakers or return to the Cavaliers for a third stint.
In two stints with the Cavaliers, James averaged 27.2 points, 7.3 rebounds, 7.3 assists and 1.6 steals and 0.8 blocks per game. He won two MVPs and one Finals MVP and made 10 All-Star teams with his hometown club.
The Cavaliers beat the 73-9 Golden State Warriors in the 2016 NBA Finals. James and Co. are the only team in NBA history to erase a 3-1 series deficit in the NBA Finals.
James averaged 29.7 points, 11.3 rebounds, 8.9 assists, 2.6 steals and 2.3 blocks per game in the 2016 NBA Finals. He was named Finals MVP.
While golfing with Bob Does Sports, James spoke about how special the 2016 NBA championship with his hometown Cavaliers was.
"Winning the first one was more weight off my shoulders, but winning in Cleveland was a goal that I wanted to do," James said. "I needed to close that chapter and that's why I went back. I wanted to close that chapter. I always wanted to win one back home and obviously the organization never won one, and 50-plus years for the city alone, not winning a championship, not just basketball, but the city alone.
"So, me going back there, that was my main mission was like, I want to win one for this city and for this state as well. So the first one weight off my shoulder, it solidified me being what I thought I always was, but the one in Cleveland was probably the most special one."
James last played for Cleveland during the 2017-18 season. The Cavaliers lost to the Golden State Warriors in the 2018 NBA Finals and James left home for the Lakers in free agency shortly after.
Arguably the best player in NBA history, James is a four-time MVP, four-time champion and four-time Finals MVP. He is the NBA's all-time leader in points, field goals, games, minutes and wins.
If James doesn't retire from the NBA this offseason, it will be fascinating to see where he's playing next season. It will probably be the Lakers or Cavaliers.
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