With the NBA postseason edging closer and closer, fans of the Cleveland Cavaliers are now beginning to look even further ahead in the schedule to when free agency begins. When the free agency period rolls around, LeBron James will officially be free to sign with any team he wants.
While many have speculated that James has already made up his mind regarding his future — or lack thereof — in Cleveland, it seems the four-time MVP is still weighing the factors that will help him make a decision. Among those factors are two that he admitted are of utmost importance: his family and winning.
James spoke with Cleveland.com regarding his impending free agency and what he will take into account before making his final decision.
“My family. That’s all that matters,” James said. “I want to continue to win at the highest level, because I know I can still do it as an individual, and then my family. My family is what’s most important to me, more than anything.”
James and his wife Savannah were both born and raised in Akron, and their three children have called Northeast Ohio home for much of their lives. Their oldest son, LeBron James Jr., is just one school year away from potentially attending and playing basketball at Akron’s St. Vincent-St. Mary’s, the very same school that James played for when he first gained fame as a basketball phenom.
James continued to explain that where his family wants to live will help him and his managerial staff make a final decision.
“That’s just a small piece of it,” James said, when asked if the decision comes down to where his family wants to live. “We make joint decisions all together, all the time. Once we get to it, my agent and my team we will all tackle it the right way but my family plays a big part in it. And winning.”
The Cavs cannot control how James’ family feels about staying in Ohio, or leaving for potential destinations like Los Angeles or Philadelphia, but they can make Cleveland an attractive option in terms of winning. James reiterated how special it was to win a championship as a member of the Cavs in 2016. His recent dominant play seems to indicate that he is as motivated as ever to win again this year.
“We did what we wanted to do and I did want I wanted to do when I came back, and that’s to bring a championship to the city,” James said. “That was always one of my goals I think our fans, everybody showed us our appreciation after we won it.”
Only time will tell if the Cavs have done enough to help James bring a second NBA championship to Cleveland by season’s end. If they do, it would certainly give James a huge reason to stay.
