Charles Barkley bets entire salary on major Lakers decision as LeBron James gets emotional on Cavs return
An emotional LeBron James sparked questions over his NBA future during a trip back to Cleveland on Wednesday night.
The Ohio native, who is regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all-time, was in town with the Los Angeles Lakers to face the Cavaliers.
Now 41, many have speculated it could have been his final NBA game at Rocket Arena, where he spent 11 seasons of his record-breaking career.
LeBron James tears up over Cavs tribute video
Cleveland routed their visitors with a 129-99 win, and James failed to make a definitive statement on the court. He put up 11 points, five assists and three rebounds in 27 minutes of action.
His big statement, though, perhaps came as he sat on the bench.
LeBron was moved to tears during a first-quarter video tribute from his former team, which featured highlights of his epic performance in Game 5 of the 2007 Eastern Conference finals.
As a 22-year-old, he scored 48 points — including 25 straight to finish the game — to inspire the Cavs to victory over the Detroit Pistons in double overtime. It was one of his greatest ever performances.
Cleveland won that series 4-2, and moved onto the NBA Finals, where they were swept by the San Antonio Spurs.
James was seen tearing up on the sideline as he was introduced to the crowed, who gave him a royal homecoming despite the fact he was wearing a Lakers jersey.
As the video played, he pulled his top over his face, before he wiped away any tears and made his way to the floor with 7:46 remaining in the first quarter.
LeBron explained his emotions during a postgame interview, and revealed he was unsure if he would ever play in Cleveland again.
“It definitely got to me a little bit, for sure,” he said.
“I think it comes from being present. It wasn’t the highlights. It was just being present. I’m trying to live in the moment because I don’t know if it’s my last time here.
“Every road arena I’ve been in, I’m just trying to take every moment in because it very well could be the last time.
“And obviously, it means a little bit more to me personally because I grew up 35 minutes south of here.”
Speaking about the video tribute, he added: “I didn’t expect that, but obviously a lot of memories here, a lot of history. I remember that moment like it was yesterday. It was a pretty cool moment.”
While James isn’t sure if Wednesday night marked his final game in Cleveland, one fellow NBA legend is pretty confident he will be back.
Charles Barkley makes big Lakers bet as he predicts LeBron decision
Speaking on Inside the NBA, Charles Barkley suggested this season will be LeBron’s last in Los Angeles, and tipped him to return to the Cavaliers to see out his career.
“There’s one thing I’m sure of, this is his last year with the Lakers,” the 1993 MVP said.
“He’s not going to play with the Lakers. I’ve always said I’d like to see him finish in Cleveland. I’m not opposed to him getting traded to Cleveland this year.
“The Eastern Conference is up for grabs.”
After Kenny Smith noted the West is also up for grabs, the Inside the NBA crew went on to debate the Lakers’ championship chances.
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Barkley is so sure the ‘ageing’ squad won’t be able to make a run, that he offered to put his ESPN salary on the line. He then suggested the team will be making a massive decision over LeBron in the months to come.
“Let’s put our paychecks up,” Chuck told Smith.
“I’ll give you the Lakers, and I’ll take anybody else. I’ll take a team in the West, and you take the Lakers.”
When pressed by Smith to pick a specific team to bet on, Barkley initially wanted the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder, before settling on the Denver Nuggets.
He then doubled down on the idea that James will return to the Cavs.
“LeBron, he’s earned the right for a farewell tour. It’s clear this is his last year with the Lakers, and that’s the right thing to do.
“They’re going to move on, and that’s the right thing to do. At some point, you have to turn the team over to Luka (Doncic) and Austin (Reaves).
“You can’t be playing him $50 million a year to be the third-best player on the team.”
Barkley is confident that LeBron will leave the Lakers sooner rather than later, and wants to see him get a farewell tour in Cleveland.
The man himself, though, insists he hasn’t been thinking about that.
“Eight years ago when I left to go to LA, if you would have asked would I still be playing in 2026, I would have said no,” he told reporters in Cleveland.
“After going to eight-straight finals and with all the energy, all the mental toll and the physical toll that it took on me, and obviously my teammates… there’s no way I could of foresee that.
“I have not even thought of a farewell tour, or whatever the case may be, because I haven’t had that conversation with myself and my family on when it’s over.”
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