LeBron James Tears Up After Cleveland Cavaliers Pay Tribute In What ‘Very Well Could Be’ His Last Hometown Game
- - LeBron James Tears Up After Cleveland Cavaliers Pay Tribute In What ‘Very Well Could Be’ His Last Hometown Game
Sean NeumannJanuary 30, 2026 at 1:02 AM
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LeBron James
Cleveland Cavaliers/Instagram
LeBron James became emotional during a Cleveland Cavaliers video tribute that played on the scoreboard during Wednesday night's game
The 41-year-old NBA star teased after the game that he is considering retiring after this season
LeBron is currently in his record-breaking 23rd NBA season
LeBron James wiped away tears Wednesday night as the Cleveland Cavaliers paid tribute to him in what may very well have been the last hometown game of the NBA star’s career.
The emotional moment happened during a first quarter break in the action when a tribute video honoring James’ career in Cleveland was played on the Rocket Arena scoreboard.
The 41-year-old basketball star appeared to be trying to hold in his emotions before he put his head in his jersey and later used a piece of tissue to wipe away the tears, as the Cleveland crowd gave the visiting Los Angeles Lakers player a standing ovation.
After the game, the 23-year NBA veteran told reporters that despite the poignant moment, he was still uncertain whether Wednesday night’s game was the last professional game he’d ever play in Cleveland – 40 miles north of where he grew up in Akron, Ohio – and where James played 11 seasons, delivering a long-awaited NBA championship to the city in 2016.
"I'm just trying to take everything in, not take the moments for granted," James said after the game, according to ESPN. "Because it could be [my last season]. I obviously haven't made a decision on the future, but it very well could be."
LeBron James
Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty
The four-time NBA champion said he felt “more present” during Wednesday night’s game than usual, hence his response to the Cavaliers' montage of his legendary performance in Game 5 of the 2007 Eastern Conference Finals during which he scored 25 straight points.
"I think it just comes from just being present,” James explained. “I was just more present today than I've been [in past trips to Cleveland]. [It] definitely got to me a little bit, for sure."
LeBron James
Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty
LeBron also noted that the fact he was playing with his son Bronny, 21, made the night even more special.
"My mom gets to watch her son and her grandson play in the NBA at the same time," LeBron pointed out after the game. "I actually just started to think about how insane that is. Yeah, that's awesome."
The four-time NBA MVP handed off his game-worn jersey to his mother, Gloria, after the final buzzer."I was almost emotional myself,” Bronny said after the game.
LeBron has remained mum on his future and whether it could be his last, after entering the league out of high school when he was 18 years old and going on to become the sport’s all-time leading scorer.
“Obviously, the question gets asked more and the thought creeps in my mind more at 41 years old of when the end is and where's the finish line for us to hang this thing up," James said after the game. "But the drive is how much, like, juice I can squeeze out of this orange. ... I'm in a battle with Father Time and I'm taking it personal, and I am going to see how many more times I [can] be victorious over him."
on People
Source: “AOL Sports”
