LeBron James’ Cleveland return felt like a possible goodbye

CLEVELAND — LeBron James looked fairly old in the Lakers’ 129-99 road loss to the Cavaliers on Wednesday.

He had his moments. But they were very few. He had more moments where didn’t look … well, like LeBron James.

He has to know that. He sort of even acknowledged it.

“I’m in a battle with Father Time and I’m taking it personally,” he said. “But I’m also not going to be one of those guys (who hangs on too long).”

Without a doubt, this could be LeBron’s final visit to Rocket Arena as an NBA player. He didn’t say that. He didn’t have to. At 41, life in sports is well behind the vast majority of professional athletes.

He did admit, yeah, this could’ve been it.

“If you’d asked me eight years ago when I left for LA if I’d still be playing, I’d have said no,” James said. 

Then came the money quote.

“… Just being present in the moment,” he added. “I don’t know if it’s my last time here or not.”

James finished with a mere 11 points, five assists and three rebounds. Nothing wrong with that. This one was over in the third quarter. There were few meaningful moments in the second half. 

But the Cavs didn’t have Evan Mobley, Darius Garland or (still) Max Strus. That’s three starters. So LeBron spent most of the night being outplayed by not just the rising Jaylon Tyson (20 points), but Dean Wade and two-way man Nae’Qwan Tomlin, too.

These aren’t insults. Just cold, hard truths that come with age catching up and the body wearing down. 

Afterward, James spent time signing autographs and visiting with family outside the Lakers locker room. That included his mother, Gloria James. “Where’s Bronny at?” he asked, just when things started getting loud.

During those moments, LeBron started to tear up. Just as he began to do at his postgame press conference and when the Cavs played an in-game tribute video before that.

“A lot of memories here, a lot of history,” he said. “In every road arena I try to take it all in, because it could be …”

His voiced trailed again.

“Obviously, it means more here for me personally,” he said.

Was this it? LeBron’s last time in Cleveland as an NBA player?

He says he doesn’t have the answer for that today, and he is likely being honest. He probably hasn’t decided.

And that is how things were left.

At least, they were left that way until he exited his press conference. That’s when a Cleveland media member patted him on the back and joked, “See you next year.”

LeBron James smiled widely. He seemed to really like that idea.