“You bring the chip back to Cleveland, and you say goodbye” – Stephen A. Smith says LeBron’s only hope for a title is to return to Cleveland originally appeared on Basketball Network.
Stephen A. Smith has made plenty of bold predictions over his decades on television, but his latest take might be one of the most controversial for Los Angeles Lakers fans. On Friday’s “First Take,” the ESPN personality made it clear that, in his view, LeBron James will not win another championship unless he returns to where his legend began.
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“If LeBron James came back to Cleveland, you the favorites to come out of the East, and you only need four wins to win a championship,” Smith said. “You come back to Cleveland, you bring the chip back to Cleveland, and you say goodbye. Five-time champion, tying Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan and the crew. That ain’t happening if you stay in L.A., because you ain’t coming out of the West.”
Smith’s reasoning is simple: the Eastern Conference is more manageable, and the Cleveland Cavaliers, despite being ousted in the second round of the playoffs last season, already have the talent to contend.
The Lakers, on the other hand, are staring down a brutal Western Conference that features the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder, the deep and balanced Minnesota Timberwolves and an arriving Houston team.
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For James, who will turn 41 in December of this year, Smith believes the road in the West is simply too steep.
The case for Cleveland
Smith pointed out that a move back to the Cavaliers would instantly make them the favorites in the East. Cleveland already has a strong core led by All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell, who averaged 24 points last season, and big man Evan Mobley, who earned the Defensive Player of the Year.
The Cavs finished last season 64-18, the franchise’s best record ever, and reached the second round of the playoffs before falling to the New York Knicks.
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“Cleveland,” Smith said, “if LeBron was back in Cleveland, Cleveland is the favorites, and then he would remind people he here to win a championship instead of going Hollywood. … I’m saying you look at the West, it’s loaded. The road to prosperity is hard. It’s much easier in the Eastern Conference this season.”
Smith’s view is that James could slot in as the perfect veteran leader alongside Mitchell and Mobley, while also easing the offensive burden on point guard Darius Garland. With the East’s usual contenders – Boston, Indiana and Milwaukee – all facing questions of health and roster fit, Cleveland could have a clear shot at the Finals.
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James’ track record in the East is undeniable. In his previous stint with the Cavaliers and his years in Miami, the four-time MVP reached the Finals eight straight seasons from 2011 to 2018. Since moving to the Lakers in 2018, however, he’s made just two deep playoff runs, with one ending in a championship in the 2020 bubble and the other in a Western Conference finals sweep at the hands of Denver in 2023.
Why the West is a tougher climb
The Lakers went 50-32 last season and earned the third seed in the West, but their playoff hopes ended quickly in a first-round loss to Minnesota. James still posted elite numbers, including a 38-point effort on the road, but the load he carried to keep the Lakers competitive was enormous.
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In contrast, Cleveland’s roster is younger and deeper, meaning James could pick his spots rather than playing 35-plus minutes every night. The Cavaliers were a top-five defensive team last season and ranked among the league’s leaders in net rating after the All-Star break. Adding James’ playmaking and postseason experience to that mix could be the final piece in a championship puzzle.
But of course, there are major caveats, including James’ contract situation, which includes a no-trade clause; being on the same team as his son Bronny James; and whether the 21-time All-Star is willing to leave Los Angeles, where he has planted his many business endeavors.
The machinations behind a James-Cleveland reunion would be monumental. To land James, who is set to earn over $50 million next season, would require potentially parting ways with a historic collection of assets.
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This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Aug 8, 2025, where it first appeared.