This summer, LeBron James’s future with the Los Angeles Lakers was a hot topic. After his agent, Rich Paul, made a cryptic comment about the four-time NBA champion’s tenure with the franchise, speculation swirled about his next potential destination.
While James did pick up his $52.6 million player option and is expected to start the 2025-26 season in Los Angeles alongside Luka Dončić, one prominent analyst has a different idea for how the veteran can capture his fifth ring.
Why Does Stephen A. Smith Want LeBron James Back in Cleveland?
Speaking on a recent episode of the “Stephen A. Smith Show,” the ESPN analyst argued that returning to the Cleveland Cavaliers would give James his best chance at winning another NBA championship.
“If I were LeBron, and clearly I am not, I’d strongly consider going back to Cleveland,” Smith began. “I think that LeBron James has a better shot at winning a championship if he were back in Cleveland with Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley and those boys, than if he stayed in LA.”
Smith’s reasoning is straightforward. He doesn’t see a path to a title for the Lakers in a competitive Western Conference.
“I can’t see him win no championship in LA, not over Oklahoma City or healthy Dallas,” he added. “But if he were in Cleveland with Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley and those boys, I think that would give LeBron a better shot at tying Kobe for five rings.”
His take stems from the fact that the Cavaliers were one of the hottest teams in the league during the 2024-25 campaign before the Indiana Pacers outplayed them in the conference semifinals. Smith believes their young core could benefit from James’s experience, and the blockbuster move would instantly elevate Cleveland to title contender status.
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Meanwhile, this summer, the Lakers’ superstar was strongly linked with the Golden State Warriors. However, a move never materialized, and James remains a Laker. While the current Los Angeles roster boasts continuity and a few intriguing names, most still regard them as playoff contenders at best.
This comes after James put together another impressive season with the Purple and Gold. He defied father time, averaging 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game. Despite his stellar run and Dončić’s addition ahead of the trade deadline, the Lakers failed to advance past the first round of the playoffs.
Ultimately, the 40-year-old’s future with the Lakers remains a major topic of debate. Much of his decision-making will likely depend on how Los Angeles performs in the first half of the season with Dončić and Austin Reaves in the mix. But for now, he is expected to lace up for LA on opening night.
