As the Western Conference turns into an arms race of star-studded teams and unforgiving playoff brackets, FS1’s Nick Wright has made an emotional — and provocative — suggestion: LeBron James should leave the Los Angeles Lakers and return to the Cleveland Cavaliers for a final title push. Not just for nostalgia, but because it might be his best shot at winning a fifth ring.
Appearing on First Things First , Wright floated a scenario that feels both improbable and oddly sensible: “Year 23 — go back home, win a title with Cleveland, or at least make another Finals,” he said. “You couldn’t go there if they won 64 games and won the Finals, but when they just keep getting clocked in Round 2… ‘Who’s your starting three? Max Strus? I think I’m an upgrade.’”
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A Window in the East
Wright’s argument hinges on timing. With Jayson Tatum likely missing the 2025–26 season due to a torn Achilles and rumors swirling about a potential Giannis Antetokounmpo trade out West, the Eastern Conference suddenly feels winnable.
“You do have, right now, a massive opening in the Eastern Conference,” Wright noted, “because Giannis might be on the move and Tatum, sadly, we now know what we feared yesterday — a torn Achilles. That probably means next year’s gone.”
The East, long considered weaker than the West, has rarely been so wide open. Compare that to the West, where the Timberwolves, Nuggets, Thunder, Mavericks, Clippers, and Warriors all loom as legitimate title threats. Even an all-time great like LeBron could be forgiven for wanting a clearer path to the Finals.
A Cavs Reunion?
Wright is also pushing for something bigger — not just a LeBron return, but a family affair. He believes the Cavaliers could trade for Bronny James, allowing father and son to team up in Cleveland. After all, LeBron himself said, “I’ve always wanted to play with my son.”
But the road isn’t so clear. For that dream to materialize, LeBron would likely need to decline his $52.7 million player option with the Lakers and sign for close to the veteran minimum. As Wright admitted, “It can only happen if Bron is willing to play for close to nothing… just being like, ‘You know what? I did my job in L.A. I brought them a championship.’”
And while that scenario is hard to envision, Wright argues that sentiment and legacy might finally override finances. After all, Cleveland has never made it past the second round without LeBron. With him? They’ve lived in the Finals.
“They’ve never been past Round 2 except for when he’s been there,” Wright pointed out. “And they’ve lived in the Finals. Just go home, Bron.”
The Cavaliers’ Conundrum
The Cavs’ 2025 campaign was a rollercoaster. They swept the Miami Heat in a historic first-round demolition but fell apart in the Eastern Conference Semis, bowing out in five games to the Indiana Pacers. Despite Donovan Mitchell averaging a heroic 34.2 points per game while nursing injuries, Cleveland once again fell short of breaking through.
This marks Mitchell’s seventh straight playoff appearance without a Conference Finals berth — an odd distinction for one of the league’s elite guards. Despite boasting All-Stars in Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and Darius Garland, the Cavaliers lack that championship pedigree. Wright believes LeBron could fill that void instantly, just as he did in 2016.
“Their starting small forward… Max Strus? Sorry, Max Strus. He went 0-for-9 in Game 5 and scored zero points. That’s not going to get it done,” Wright said, drawing a sharp comparison to LeBron’s legendary Finals comeback against the Warriors.
LeBron’s Uncertain Future
In his season-ending press conference, James acknowledged that he hadn’t decided whether to return for his 23rd season.
“I don’t have an answer to that,” James said. “It’s something I’ll sit down with my family, my wife, and my support group and kind of just talk through it.”
Asked how the Lakers can improve their roster, James was non-committal: “It’s a business. So you don’t know what the roster will look like next year. I got a lot to think about myself.”
If he opts into his deal, the Lakers will be financially hamstrung. If he opts out and takes a pay cut, they can retool. But if he opts out and bolts to Cleveland? That would change the course of two franchises — again.
The Basketball Case
LeBron averaged 25.4 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 5.6 assists in the 2025 playoffs — still elite production for a 40-year-old. He’s no longer the best player in the league, but he’s still capable of being the best player in a series. His combination of leadership, playoff experience, and versatility would transform Cleveland’s ceiling.
From a purely basketball standpoint, joining a Cavaliers team with a defensive anchor in Mobley, a scorer in Mitchell, and a creator in Garland is appealing. Especially in the East, where the path to a Finals appearance may be smoother than ever.
The Legacy Angle
Perhaps more than anything, Wright’s suggestion is about legacy. The idea of LeBron James — the kid from Akron — finishing his career where it began has a poetic symmetry. The first title in 2016 delivered Cleveland its only championship. A final one there would close the circle.
It’s unlikely. It’s complicated. It’s maybe even impractical.
But it’s also undeniably compelling.
And if the NBA has taught us anything, it’s that the league’s greatest stories are the ones no one sees coming — until they do.