Speculation around LeBron James and a possible return to the Cleveland Cavaliers continues to follow the league, especially with James’ contract set to expire this summer.
During All-Star Weekend, that conversation reached Cleveland’s locker room when Donovan Mitchell was asked directly about the idea of teaming up with the franchise icon.
“As a Bron fan, to be able to be a teammate, that would obviously be special, but that’s not something in my control,” Mitchell said speaking on SiriusXM NBA Radio. “I control what we got here. There’s always going to be reports, that’s natural, it’s gonna be a thing.
“It’s LeBron James, right?”
Here’s Donovan Mitchell’s thoughts on the rumors that LeBron could finish his career in Cleveland@TermineRadio | @Jumpshot8
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“At the end of the day, to your point, my main focus right now is trying to get this championship. And whatever it happens, it happens. Like, that’s not up to me, that’s not up to anybody else in the locker room. So I’m big on believing what I can control. But yeah, it’s LeBron James, right?
“At the end of the day, that’s not my focus. I’m not here to worry about that. I know I’m gonna get asked about that a bunch all weekend, but my focus is [with the current team]. We just traded for James Harden, Dennis Schroder, Keon Ellis, I would say, ‘Let’s try to find a way to get a ring,’ and go from there.”
Mitchell has never hidden the fact that he grew up watching James, and the idea of sharing the floor with him clearly carries weight. At the same time, he stopped short of fueling rumors or suggesting any behind-the-scenes recruiting.
Former NBA player Lou Williams, for one, isn’t convinced about the potential chances of the Cavs contending if they were to recruit James.
“History tells me that the OG-led team usually don’t compete for championships,” Williams said on Run It Back. “It looks good, it feels good. I’m thinking of the old Lakers with Karl Malone and Gary Payton, all of ’em guys, and they still (couldn’t win a championship).”
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