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Debate

LeBron facing a respect crisis—should he leave the Lakers to preserve his legacy?

LeBron James pulled up to the Lakers in 2018 and has been doing big things ever since—securing a chip in 2020 and snagging a Finals MVP too. No doubt, those are major moves. But the real question is: will Lakers fans ever ride for LeBron the way Cleveland fans do? That’s tough to call. LeBron’s an Ohio native, and yeah, leaving the Cavs in 2010 had folks heated, but he came back and delivered that iconic ring in 2016.

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So, when it comes to LeBron’s farewell from the league, is Cleveland the spot to see him off? While there’s no clear answer, ex-NBA champ Jeff Teague is leaning that way. On the Club 520 podcast, the conversation turned to LeBron’s final years, and Teague chimed in, “He[Lebron] gonna stay in LA. I wish he would have went to Cleveland or something…that would be hard but he going to stay in LA.” Teague’s got that sentimental vibe, hoping to see LeBron wrap up his legendary career where it all started. Just imagine—Bron bringing it full circle, finishing his story in the city he put on his back in 2016. Now, that’d be something special!

But there’s more to it. B-Hen also jumped in, saying, “If he go back to his last year in the NBA and do it with the Cavs that’d be far…cuz I mean they not about to win shit, so he can wild out that whole last year. The Lakers’ fan base ain’t going to let him wild out last year, they don’t care about his farewell.” Hen’s basically saying LeBron wouldn’t need to go all out if he wraps up his career with the Cavs. The Lakers are always in win-now mode, so if he stays in LA, the fans will expect him to still be that dude, even in his last season. But in Cleveland? It’s a different vibe. Fans know the team might not be in contention, which could give LeBron the freedom to just enjoy the moment without all those expectations. Still, who knows? In the NBA, anything can happen!

While LeBron would definitely get a farewell from the Lakers, Jeff Teague put it out there, “But not like he would if he was with Cleveland.” That really shows the special bond LeBron has with his first NBA squad. In Cleveland, it’s not just about the trophies; it’s about coming back home and soaking up the love from the city that watched him grow.

“I don’t have much time left”-LeBron James on his retirement

Since LeBron James first stepped into the NBA back in 2003, he’s been straight-up mesmerizing fans worldwide with his game. He’s bagged championships, MVPs, and broken records, like that insane 48,500-point milestone—making him the GOAT in the eyes of many. But as epic as his journey has been, it’s gotta come to a close, eventually.

USA Today via Reuters

At 39, LeBron’s clock is winding down, and soon enough, we’ll be saying goodbye to another legend on the court. The King himself knows the end is drawing near. “Not very long. I am on the other side, obviosuly at a hill, so I am not going to play another 21 years, that’s for damn sure but not very long. I don’t know when that door was closed as far as when I retire, but I don’t have much time left,” LeBron said. Hearing that hits hard, but it’s a reality we gotta face.

The least, the NBA can do is throw him the farewell he deserves—a celebration of everything he’s done for the game and the legacy he’s built. So, which team do you think he should wrap it up with?

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LeBron facing a respect crisis—should he leave the Lakers to preserve his legacy?

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