"He's not Kobe or Magic" - Stephen A. Smith urges LeBron to leave Lakers for "God-Like" return to Cleveland

The Los Angeles Lakers have finally started to look like a team capable of contending for the NBA championship, after closing the month of March 2026 by winning 15 of their total 17 games. It finally seems the Big 3, along with the supporting cast, have finally understood their roles and the team is in perfect sync on the court, feeding off each other’s energy.

With the team looking stronger in every game, speculations have naturally surfaced about whether LeBron James would want to leave the franchise as a free agent next season.

And while Stephen A. Smith agrees there’s no spectacle bigger than retiring as a Laker, he also believes King James could walk away with a near-mythical, almost divine farewell if he ends his career back home in Cleveland.

Smith says LeBron isn’t on the same level as Kobe or Magic in LA

Of course, there’s no disputing that LeBron’s arrival rejuvenated the Lakers, bringing back their “Showtime” aura and keeping them in the media spotlight. But fans in LA still don’t view the four-time MVP with the same emotional weight as Kobe Bryant or Magic Johnson – icons who spent their entire careers with the franchise and built its legendary foundation. So, understandably, the connection is different.

That’s where SAS leaned in. He argued that if the “Akron Hammer” returns to Cleveland for his final stint, he would receive the royal send-off he deserves. Not only would the Cavs fans shower him with undivided appreciation, treating him with a God-like aura for what he means to the city, but the franchise will also give LBJ a legitimate chance to remain in title contention with the current roster.

“To be a Laker and to receive your flowers as you depart, going from city to city? It doesn’t get much better than that. I’m of the mindset, however, that he has the opportunity to go out as a champion. If LeBron James decided to join Cleveland and James Harden is still there? Donovan Mitchell? Mobley? Allen? They’re still there? The Cleveland Cavaliers, with LeBron James, can win a championship,” Smith said.

“No matter how much they cheer him in LA, he’s not as dearly beloved as he is in Cleveland. You know what Kobe is, what Magic is, what theta r ein LA, that’s who LeBron is in Cleveland.”

Cavs can win big with LBJ

Donovan Mitchell is a young scorer who can drop 30 points per game. Harden, even at this stage of his career, can drop 15-20 points while dropping assists in double digits. More notably, the Cavs have a twin-tower pairing of Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley, who can operate as defensive anchors and provide the perfect pick-and-lob threat.

If a 41-year-old LeBron were to join such a unit, he would be likely required to operate as the team’s third-best scorer on most nights and play pretty much the same role he has been playing off lately for the Lakers.

However, the biggest thing about LBJ is that he remains unpredictable. No one really knows what his future plans are going to be, especially as it looks like he’s comfortable supporting the ascension of Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves at the moment.

This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Apr 2, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

“He’s not Kobe or Magic” – Stephen A. Smith urges LeBron to leave Lakers for “God-Like” return to Cleveland

Tags: