CLEVELAND — LeBron James can dribble through a trap on an NBA court easier than he can walk out of this arena after a game. No matter how many years he lives in Los Angeles, this will always be home.
There’s always one more picture to take, one more hug to give, one more autograph to sign. A sea of at least 40 people, mostly friends and family, were waiting for James in the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse corridor following the Los Angeles Lakers’ 134-110 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday.
That’s standard procedure around here, particularly since the Lakers only make one trip per season. James has grown accustomed to it over the years. He doesn’t get impatient, greeting each guest with a warm smile and enough time for a quick conversation and a few pictures.
The story of the greatest players in NBA history. In 100 riveting profiles, top basketball writers justify their selections and uncover the history of the NBA in the process.
The story of the greatest plays in NBA history.
What made this trip unique is that for the first time, Bronny James was alongside him, dressed in a white Lakers quarter-zip. Eventually, Bronny got tired of waiting and found something else to do.
“Where’s Bronny?” James asked no one in particular, 17 minutes after he departed the Lakers interview room and started working the crowd of familiar faces. He still hadn’t reached the arena exit, but he was at least inching closer. “We’ve got to go.”
One of these days, LeBron James really will go.
After 22 NBA seasons, how many homecoming games does he really have left here?
I wondered about that when he was introduced to a roaring ovation before the game, when the crowd cheered his first dunk down the lane and when they erupted again when LeBron and Bronny were both acknowledged on the scoreboard during a timeout in the first quarter.
How many more ovations are left? How much longer can this go on?
When James played for the Cavs the second time, we had a conversation about retirement one random night in the visiting locker room in Philadelphia. It’s rare for James to be reflective about such items, but I caught him on a good night.
“I’ll never embarrass the game,” James told me. “I won’t stick around so long that I embarrass myself or this game. This game has been too good to me. It’s given me too much.”
He has kept his word. He’ll turn 40 in two months, and he’s still averaging 20 points a night. He scored 26 points in Wednesday’s loss. It’s absurd, really. He’s not embarrassing this game; he’s enhancing it.
James has nothing left to accomplish other than extending the all-time scoring mark into unimagined heights. His last career bucket list item was playing with his son. He accomplished that on opening night, then watched from the bench Wednesday as Bronny scored his first NBA basket — a stepback corner jumper from just inside the 3-point line. For it to happen in Cleveland, in front of this sold-out crowd that chanted his name throughout the fourth quarter and erupted again when he scored his first basket, was poetic. Bronny attended middle school here. He was 11 years old and posing on the court next to J.R. Smith when the Cavs won their championship — a picture the Cavs posted outside the Lakers locker room to welcome Bronny back home.
“Pretty cool,” LeBron said.
This crowd gave Bronny the type of ovation he’ll never receive in any other city or arena. Throughout the fourth quarter of what was a blowout, the crowd chanted multiple times for Bronny to enter the game. When he finally got off the bench and checked in with 5:16 remaining, he entered to another huge ovation. The crowd roared again when he scored his first basket. It was surreal and loud enough to pass for a Lakers home game.
“It felt good out there,” Bronny said.
GO DEEPER
Bronny James’ ex-teachers, teammates in Ohio recall a kid who ‘wasn’t above anyone else’
This is what the James family means to Cleveland now. It has taken a long time to get here, but all the bitterness from LeBron leaving twice seems to have subsided. No other city and athlete have as complicated of a history as LeBron does with Cleveland.
From adored native son to traitor, to forgiven and now voraciously cheered as a visitor, James receives the type of ovations now he never did when he returned as a member of the Miami Heat — for obvious reasons. In his mind, returning to Cleveland and winning a championship made amends for all the hurt. Judging by his reception here Wednesday, the city agrees. It has been a turbulent journey that has included delirious cheers, burned jerseys, vitriolic boos and ultimately a championship parade.
“We spent a lot of years here as part of this community,” James said. “A lot of great memories on the floor, a lot of great memories off the floor as well.”
James has hinted at retirement in recent years. He signed a two-year contract before this season, but next year is a player option. It’s fair to wonder if he’ll be ready to walk away after this season, which would’ve made Wednesday his final appearance in Cleveland.
James is already on record that he wants to play in all 82 games. The last — and only — time he did that was his final season in Cleveland. It’s reasonable to believe James knew for most of that 2017-18 season that it would be his final one in Cleveland.
Is playing in all 82 this year his way of saying goodbye?
I tend to believe James wants the farewell tour, that he’ll announce his retirement early enough to give each city a chance to recognize him on his way out. He loves to be loved.
Just to make sure, I asked him on his way out of the arena Wednesday if this could be it.
Could this be his last game in this arena?
James paused, then stopped for one more picture and one more hello before answering.
“Probably not. Probably not,” he said. “Bronny told me I have to stick around now for Bryce.”
Bryce James is a high school senior and isn’t eligible for the NBA for two more years.
LeBron was joking. Probably. Maybe.
(Photo of LeBron and Bronny James: Jason Miller / Getty Images)
Leave a Reply