LeBron James tears up over tribute video as Cavs rout Lakers

Dave McMenaminJan 29, 2026, 12:10 PM

CloseLakers and NBA reporter for ESPN.
Covered the Lakers and NBA for ESPNLosAngeles.com from 2009-14, the Cavaliers from 2014-18 for ESPN.com and the NBA for NBA.com from 2005-09.

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CLEVELAND — There was no definitive statement by LeBron James after the Lakers lost 129-99 to the Cavaliers that Wednesday was his final game played in Cleveland. But then again, there was no definitive statement by James that it wasn’t.

“I’m just trying to take everything in, not take the moments for granted,” James said. “Because it could be [my last season]. I obviously haven’t made a decision on the future, but it very well could be.”

James was moved to tears during a first-quarter video tribute by the Cavaliers that showed highlights of his epic performance in Game 5 of the 2007 Eastern Conference finals when, as a 22-year-old, he scored 48 points — including 25 straight to finish the game — and beat the favored Detroit Pistons in double overtime.

“I think it just comes from just being present. I was just more present today than I’ve been [in past trips to Cleveland],” James said. “[It] definitely got to me a little bit, for sure.”

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Unlike in past years, the Cavaliers got to James and the Lakers.

He came into the night with a 9-3 record in Cleveland as a visiting player with the Lakers and Miami Heat. In those 12 games, he had never scored fewer than 21 points.

Wednesday was a different story. James had one of his worst games of the season with 11 points on 3-for-10 shooting and six turnovers. Los Angeles was blitzed in the third quarter 42-22, and the 30-point margin of defeat was the Lakers’ worst of the season.

Lakers coach JJ Redick said Luka Doncic falling off the elevated court and turning his left ankle in the first half was a factor.

“It is absolutely a safety hazard,” Redick said of the approximate 10-inch gap between the court and ground level in Rocket Arena.

And he said it was an emotionally draining night for James.

“I think there’s certainly emotions always for him coming back here,” Redick said. “You could see that being back here is very important to him. And you know, there’s a human element to all of this.”

But ultimately, he put the onus on himself.

“We got outplayed. … I got outcoached,” Redick said. “I probably should have made substitutions earlier in that third. … We just didn’t look like we had all our juice tonight.”

The lopsided score caused Redick to empty the bench early in the fourth quarter, much to the delight of Cleveland fans who had been chanting “We want Bronny!” for James’ son.

Bronny James took advantage of the playing time, getting a steal and breakaway dunk followed by two 3-pointers to finish with eight points in eight minutes.

“It was crazy,” the younger James said. “It was a lot different than every other ‘We want Bronny!’ chant, so I was just excited to go out there and play. I’m always ready to go out and play, whether that’s when the entire arena is saying ‘We want Bronny!’ or no one is.”

LeBron wasn’t the only family member of Bronny’s watching the 21-year-old play mop-up minutes. Gloria James was in a suite with friends and extended family to see the Lakers come to town.

“My mom gets to watch her son and her grandson play in the NBA at the same time,” said LeBron James, who presented his mom with his game-worn jersey at the end of the night. “I actually just started to think about how insane that is. Yeah, that’s awesome.”

Bronny James said he wasn’t surprised to see his dad tear up, adding, “I was almost emotional myself.”

Whether it was James’ last game in Cleveland or not, it is clear there won’t be many left. There were two major reminders of just how long he has been playing: Richard Jefferson — his teammate on the Cavaliers’ championship squad 10 years ago — was at the broadcast table working the game for ESPN, and Cleveland’s jerseys were throwbacks in the same style James wore in that win against the Pistons nearly 20 years ago.

James said he has not thought about whether he wants a retirement tour to follow an announcement. But he knows the decision is coming.

“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. “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.”