There's no guarantee that LeBron James finishes his career [with the Los Angeles Lakers](https://lakeshowlife.com/lebron-james-can-unlock-best-version-of-lakers-by-showing-crucial-trait). If he doesn't remain in Southern California until the day he retires, it feels almost like a foregone conclusion that he'll end up signing back with the Cleveland Cavaliers for one last ride with his hometown team.
If you're a long-time Laker fan, seeing the changing of the guard is not really anything new to you. If you've been around for a while, you likely remember when Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal first joined the franchise back in 1996, and the day LeBron James became the new face of the organization in 2018.
Plenty of stars have come through the sunny hills of Los Angeles, but not all of them have finished their careers in the city, for a number of reasons. The limelight of playing for the Lakers isn't for everyone. And even for some, it might be something they only want to experience for a set period of time.
For LeBron, he accomplished his main goal as a Laker in just his second season donning the purple and gold: taking home a championship. In the five seasons since that title year, it simply hasn't been in the cards for LA.
The obvious choice for LeBron's next team would be the Cavaliers
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James has now played an astounding 22 seasons in the NBA. No one would blame him if he just hung up his jersey right now. He has nothing left to prove, and now a new caveat defines his role with the Lakers as well: he's no longer the best player on the roster.
That honor would [now belong to the man wearing number 77](https://lakeshowlife.com/luka-doncic-summer-foreshadows-historic-place-lakers-lore), Luka Doncic. Throughout the last several seasons there was endless debate about whether LeBron had regressed enough that Anthony Davis should officially be considered the best player on the squad. Now, with Davis gone and Doncic in his place, there's no question who's the go-to option for the Lakers.
That's part of what leads us to this discussion and thinking more deeply about James' career direction. There's certainly more motivation for him to leave Los Angeles than ever before, and why not go back to Cleveland? It's probably the team most every NBA fan still associates him with the most. And I don't know if you've been paying any attention, but the Cavaliers have a pretty solid squad as well.
There's no telling what's going on inside LeBron's mind. But if I had to have my guess, I'd say the thought of returning home has to be at least crossing his mind.