For the fourth time in his career, LeBron James has the NBA in a chokehold.
The four-time NBA champion is the most sought-after player in free agency, even at the tender age of 41. So far, he’s been tied to the Philadelphia 76ers, Golden State Warriors, Denver Nuggets, Miami Heat and Minnesota Timberwolves. However, with this likely being his final stop before calling it a career, no team makes more sense for him than the Cleveland Cavaliers.
LeBron James should head back home to Cleveland
Returning to Northeast Ohio for the third — and final — time in his career should be an easy decision for James at this point. Even if he hasn’t always left on the best of terms, James is the undisputed greatest player in franchise history, and the fan base will always embrace him with open arms.
Admittedly, there might be better fits from a basketball perspective, given that spacing is already lacking with Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. Nevertheless, James has had a movie-like career, and he should strive for a movie-like ending as well.
The Cavs play in the softer Eastern Conference, and they’re fresh off a trip to the conference finals. They lack a true leader, someone who can weather the storm when things get tough, and James has already been there and done that.
Even if that weren’t the case, a player of James’ caliber shouldn’t play for so many different teams. He’s already won championships everywhere he’s gone, and that’s a streak you don’t want to ruin at this point in your career. So, as tempting as other destinations might be, joining any team other than the Cavaliers is more likely to do more harm than good to his nearly flawless legacy.