James is home again, this Lakers away game against the Cavaliers, the ticket price has been hyped to a new high since 2018, 208% higher than the Cavaliers' average home price this season, Cleveland fans are willing to pay for the old Zhan to buy high-priced tickets.
At the game site, a small fan welcomed James with two placards, one of which read, "LeBron, go home." Another read: "The second scorer in history, the number one in our hearts." ”
James did not disappoint the fans who bought the high-priced tickets, he played a triple-double highlight of 38 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists, and also gave a domineering dunk, and the whole scene boiled at that moment, making it difficult to distinguish whether this was the Cavaliers' home or just James' home.
It's reminiscent of Jordan returning to Chicago in a Wizards shirt, when fans gave Jordan all the cheers and booed the Bulls players. Artest, who was playing in the Bulls at the time, was puzzled, and Oakley told Artey: "This will always be Jordan's territory, you just get used to it." ”
James to Cleveland, just Jordan to Chicago.
The last time Jan came to Cleveland was on All-Star Weekend, and he scored a key goal in the game to lead the team to victory, but his remarks off the court were more focused than the difficult lock-in victory.
During the All-Star press conference, James had a conversation with Cavaliers reporter Jason Lloyd. Lloyd is a veteran media personality covering the Cavaliers and is one of James's most trusted industry insiders. When Lloyd approached James and asked if he could talk alone, James responded very warmly by letting the security guard around him leave and giving an exclusive interview to Lloyd.
As for James' state in the interview, Lloyd commented: "He opened his heart. ”
James talked a lot in that conversation, the most interesting of which was about the old club Cavaliers. James praised the Cavaliers' all-Star players Garland and Jarrett Allen by name, saying he liked the talent of the Cavaliers lineup and praising cavaliers general manager Altman's ability to operate. Lloyd hit the iron while it was hot and threw out the question.
"Have you considered returning again?"
James laughed as he told Lloyd hadn't really thought about it yet, but "that door wasn't closed."
"Not closed", can also be interpreted as "may open", James's statement once exposed, instantly triggered a variety of speculation, is the old Zhan's "decision 4" coming?
James's agency team and the Lakers conducted emergency public relations and spread the information through the media, the main content is that James is focused on this season, trying to lead the team to strive for the current maximum of the record, and the Lakers management explores reinforcement opportunities in the offseason.
In other words, where this season is played, the suspense is left until the summer is solved. James's contract with the Lakers expires in 2023, and he can be renewed in advance until August 5, if the old Zhan signs the contract, everything is good to say, if he does not sign, everything is unpredictable, and it is not impossible to return to the Cavaliers.
James or the Cavaliers to continue the front edge of the main two reasons, one is by the old Zhan called the talented Cavaliers lineup, James and cavaliers general manager Altman did not have a personal relationship, Altman in 2017 when he took office the first blockbuster operation was to trade Irving, this move made the old Zhan very dissatisfied, although Altman has a bitter heart, he does not want to send Irving, but the "Ou Immortal" forced the palace to make the Cavaliers helpless.
After James left the Cavaliers in 2018, Altman began the rebuilding process, through the draft and trade, to create a three-high combination of Jarrett Allen, Markkanen and Mobley, Garland also ushered in the rise, the Cavaliers' staffing is tall, young, and these two points are the Lakers' weaknesses, the Lakers are the shortest average height and the oldest team this season.
The Cavaliers have not consumed a lot of draft picks during the rebuilding process, and the first-round picks from 2022 to 2028 may be sent away in 2022 (15-30 will be given to the Pacers, if not given in 2022, postponed to 2023), the other years are in hand, and the Draft picks that the Lakers can use for trade have been overdrawn to 2027.
When James left the Heat in 2014, Vinhorst, a well-known basketball journalist who had been following james since he was in high school, revealed the inside story of "coming home."
"The fact that the following facts are indisputable: Playing for championships for several consecutive years has exhausted the heat's resources. They are getting older and weaker, and the options for replenishing new signings are smaller. Especially when compared to the Cavaliers, Miami is at a disadvantage because they have pushed too hard around James to build a championship team over the past four years. Venhorst wrote.
Are today's Lakers and Cavaliers a bit like the Heat and Cavaliers of eight years ago?
It's not just a squad issue, but also a "territory" issue. In the cultural circles of the NBA, there is a "territorial theory." When Durant met with the Warriors recruitment team in 2016, he took the initiative to ask Curry why he was willing to accept him to join, because in Adu's view, the Warriors are Curry's "territory". At that time, Curry said that he did not care about personal data and personal honor, he wanted a team victory, which made Adu feel at ease to join, but after three years, he still chose to leave, even if KD brought two championships to the Warriors, he was still a "mercenary".
James also brought a championship to the Lakers, and that trophy played a key role in Jenny Bass's solid position, but the Lakers' history is star-studded, "Magic" and Kobe Bryant are their own children of Los Angeles basketball, the Lakers are their territory, just as the old Zhan led the Heat to win two consecutive championships, and Miami's chief basketball hero is still Wade.
The Lakers are in trouble this season, the home game is booed, James is also targeted, angry that he sprayed with the sideline audience, which is very different from the treatment given to James by Cavaliers fans. During All-Star Weekend, James was cheered everywhere he went, and when he sprinkled the magnesium powder before the game, the audience was full of emotions, and every time he scored, he would be accompanied by applause.
'The Cleveland fans want to let LeBron know in every way what special significance he has for the city and make him feel as if he's still playing for the Cavaliers." Basketball reporter Mark Spears said.
This time James returned home, cavaliers fans are still warmly welcomed, cavaliers home use the timeout to congratulate James on the total score surpassed Carl Malone, the audience collectively stood up to salute, James is also very excited, sent a flying kiss to thank the fans, such an atmosphere, such warmth, as if yesterday reappeared, this is his home.
The Lakers beat the Cavaliers 131-120 and returned to ninth in the Western Conference, and although they have had a tough season, they have not reached a desperate moment, there is still a glimmer of hope, and James will continue to lead the team to challenge the difficulties.
The mystery of where James and the Lakers will go in the future will have a clearer judgment in the offseason, if the Lakers' end this season, the management's operation in the summer disappointed the old Zhan, he wants to rush another crown in the final peak, the breakup may occur. Of course, the Lakers are reluctant to let James go, because the old Zhan is a cash cow, but what has happened in the NBA in recent years proves that when a star has an iron heart to go, the team can't stay at all.
If James wants to change the environment, the Cavaliers will face the choice, they can not move, continue the current team building plan, step by step to improve the combat strength, this is more stable but relatively slow, from the Cavaliers lost to the Lakers this game, they have talent but lack of experience, handling the high-end game of the opponent's star outbreak is still a bit difficult, and the old Zhan even if he waits until next season is 38 years old, he can still raise the ceiling of a team with a good foundation.
Another option for the Cavaliers is to welcome James back, if it is a trade, they have young players and first-round signings as chips, but this will bring a problem, the Lakers will inevitably open their mouths, if the Cavaliers lose too much power in the trade, the significance of James' return will be halved. This is different from the homecoming in 2014, when James signed as a free agent, the Cavaliers did not consume the power in the process of getting the old Jan, and they could exchange the then-champion Wiggins for Lefour.
Theoretically, the Cavaliers can wait for James' 2023 contract to expire and sign directly, Love's contract ends in 2023, the Cavaliers' paper salary in the 2023-24 season is $64 million, although Garland may have renewed his contract with the team and started to execute a new contract, but the Cavaliers still have the opportunity to offer a maximum salary, so that the Cavaliers can regain the old Zhan without reducing the immediate combat power, but it will take a year to do so, and a lot of things will happen in a year.
All in all, the Cavaliers have a chance to get James back to Cleveland again, whether it can come true depends on James's attitude, and whether other operating conditions can be available, everything is still in the conjecture stage, but the Cavaliers at least see the possibility.
On March 21, 2013, James came to Cleveland to play against the Cavaliers on behalf of the Heat, and in that game, Jan also scored a triple-double (25 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists) and also led the team to win (98-95). At the scene of the game, a fan named James Blair ran on the field wearing a T-shirt with the words "We miss you, home in 2014", the security guard rushed forward to control Blair, James's reaction was somewhat unexpected, he took the initiative to go over and hug the fan who was looking forward to his return home.
A year later, James returned to the Cavaliers.
On March 22, 2022, James once again played a triple-double, leading the team to victory over the Cavaliers in Cleveland, this time although no fans rushed to the court, but "LeBron, go home", "You are the first in our hearts" and other placards, the touch on the heart of the old Zhan may not be lost to the T-shirt nine years ago.
Time is changing, and Cleveland's love for James has not changed.