LeBron James on Wednesday was in tears over a video tribute to his NBA career and his Los Angeles Lakers were routed 129-99 by hosts Cleveland in what might be the superstar’s last game in his hometown.
“I haven’t made a decision on the future, but it very well could be,” James said after the Lakers’ most lopsided loss of the season. “It means a little bit more for me personally because I grew up 35 minutes south of here.”
NBA all-time scoring leader James, who sparked his hometown Cavaliers to their only NBA title in 2016, has not committed to play beyond this season, his record 23rd NBA campaign.
Photo: David Richard / Imagn Images
“I don’t know what the future holds,” James said. “Just trying to live in the moment, not take for granted the opportunity and be present.”
The 41-year-old playmaker, a four-time NBA champion and four-time NBA Most Valuable Player, scored 11 points, passed off five assists, grabbed three rounds and made a steal for the Lakers.
“I hate the way we played tonight, but that happens in the NBA,” James said.
James was cheered by a sellout crowd when introduced in the starting lineup and he used a towel to wipe tears from his eyes as fans gave him a standing ovation during a special “welcome home” videoboard display.
“Definitely got to me a little bit for sure,” James said. “Lot of memories here. Lot of history. Just super grateful and thankful for the time. Looking up in the rafters and seeing our championship banner, of course there was a lot of reflecting.”
James said he does not see this season as his NBA farewell tour.
“I’ve never even thought to the point of a farewell tour or whatever the case may be because I haven’t had that conversation with myself and my family on when is it over,” he said.
Donovan Mitchell, whose 25 points led Cleveland, understood that even with the Cavaliers (29-20) win streak at five games, this night belonged to James and his legacy of making Cleveland champions after 52 years of failure in major US sports leagues.
“He has laid the foundation,” Mitchell said. “He has done a lot for the city being from here. We want to replicate that. He deserves the energy he has got here. First time they have done it in 50-some years. We’re trying to do it differently. At the end of the day, we’re trying to find ways to go out there and bring the city another championship.”
Luka Doncic had a game-high 29 points for the Lakers (28-18), who also had eight points from Bronny James, LeBron’s son.
“It was pretty cool just sitting over there and watching him,” James said. “My mom was here watching her son and her grandson. I don’t even know how to wrap that all in my brain. It’s so weird and so cool and so surreal.”
James, who fell to 9-4 as a visiting player in Cleveland, had averaged 28 points a game in 24 prior contests against the Cavs, who outscored the Lakers 42-22 in the third quarter for a 99-77 lead, hitting seven of 11 shots from three-point range and 17 of 25 overall in the period.
“We got outplayed. I got outcoached,” Lakers coach J.J. Redick said. “We just didn’t look like we had all our juice.”
The Cavs were without reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year Evan Mobley due to a left calf strain.
In other games, Victor Wembanyama had game highs of 28 points, 16 rebounds and five blocked shots to spark the San Antonio Spurs to a 111-99 triumph over the Houston Rockets.
Earlier, the Rockets said that center Steven Adams would miss the rest of the season after surgery on his left ankle.
The 32-year-old New Zealander, who was drafted 12th overall in 2013 by the Oklahoma City Thunder, was injured in a Jan. 18 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans, coming down awkwardly after rising to guard Zion Williamson at the basket.
“Adams is expected to make a full recovery, but will miss the remainder of the 2025-[20]26 season,” the Rockets said in a statement.
Adams was enjoying a resurgent season after recovering from a knee injury that hindered him over the three prior campaigns.
He averaged 5.8 points and 8.6 rebounds in 32 games this season, helping the Rockets establish themselves as the league’s top-rebounding team with 49 per game.
They went into the game against the Spurs with a 28-16 record, fourth in the Western Conference.
The loss put them three games behind the second-placed Spurs and half a game ahead of the fifth-placed Lakers.
Additional reporting by staff writer
Elsewhere on Wednesday, it was:
‧ Jazz 124, Warriors 140
‧ Raptors 92, Knicks 119
‧ Celtics 106, Hawks 117
‧ Pacers 113, Bulls 110
‧ Heat 124, Magic 133
‧ Grizzlies 97, Hornets 112
‧ Mavericks 105, T’wolves 118
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