NBA legend LeBron James played against his former team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, in an emotional return for the Lakers star. After the game, James reflected on the second time he left the Cavs to join the Lakers eight years ago, giving a shocking revelation.
LeBron James Makes a Shocking Revelation About the Lakers
James rejoined the Cavaliers from the Miami Heat in 2014 after winning two NBA championships in three years down in Florida. The NBA superstar rejoined the Cavs with one goal in mind: winning the city’s first professional sports title in over 50 years.
In his way was Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors, the super team they battled in the 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018 NBA Finals. In those four heated Finals contests, James and the Cavs won one in 2016, becoming the first team in NBA history to recover from a 3-1 deficit and beat the 73-9 Warriors in game seven.
James said, “8 years ago, when I left to go to LA, if you had asked if I would still be playing in 2026, I would have said no.”
“After going to 8 straight finals and with all the energy and all the mental toll and the physical toll that it took on me and obviously my teammates…there’s no way I could have foreseen that.”
With all the miles he had put in his legs during those eight years, I don’t think anyone expected James to still be playing at 41.
Instead, James has created his own legacy on the West Coast, winning the 2020 NBA Championship, Finals MVP, and the inaugural NBA Cup in 2023. In Feb. 2023, he overtook Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the NBA’s record scorer and has since recorded over 50,000 points in the regular season and playoffs combined.
Eight years since James left his beloved Cleveland, the 41-year-old is still playing at an extremely high level, showcasing his unbelievable longevity. In 29 games this season, James has averaged 22 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 6.7 assists, proving still to be an elite orchestrator of an NBA offence.
James added, “I have not even thought to the point of like 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.”
In year 23, James is firmly in the twilight of his career, but he’s continued to prove that age is just a number as the Lakers continue to push for the playoffs. Whatever happens, it’s safe to say that eight years down the line, not many experts expected James to have created the legacy and body of work he has at the Lakers franchise.
