Former NBA player Eddie Johnson took to social media and attempted to give Cleveland Cavaliers fans something to cheer for ahead of Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
Johnson suggested that the Cavs “celebrate tonight” because he thinks that franchise legend LeBron James will return to the team to finish his NBA career.
The Cavs were not going to win a Title even if they had won the East and so the Cavs should celebrate tonight because I predict LeBron James is returning to complete his basketball journey next year in a big way! pic.twitter.com/WVUPxLHx76
— Eddie A Johnson (@Jumpshot8) May 25, 2026
Johnson even offered a solution to anyone worried about the Cavs’ ability to pay James.
I don’t wanna hear about Cavs can’t pay him. I know, but guess who would? Nike, Madison Avenue and local advertisements. It would be a great story for the potential GOAT!
— Eddie A Johnson (@Jumpshot8) May 25, 2026
James has been with the Los Angeles Lakers since the 2018-19 season, but he’s an unrestricted free agent this coming offseason. An Ohio native, James was drafted No. 1 overall by the Cavs in the 2003 NBA Draft, and he won a championship with the franchise in the 2015-16 season.
James has left Cleveland twice – once for the Miami Heat and once for the Lakers – but he’s nearing the end of his NBA career and could decide to finish it with his hometown team. The Lakers could make a push to keep James this offseason, but ultimately the four-time champion will decide where he’ll play next since he’s no longer under contract with Los Angeles.
The Cavs made the Eastern Conference Finals this season for the first time since James left for L.A., but they’ve been outclassed by the New York Knicks, losing the first three games of the series. It’s possible that Cleveland will look to shake up its roster for next season if it is swept by New York on Monday.
James may not be the superstar that he was during his earlier stints with the Cavs, but he’s still an All-Star and played at a high level in the 2025-26 season at 41 years of age. This season, James appeared in 60 games and averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game while shooting 51.5 percent from the field and 31.7 percent from 3.
He also had a strong playoff run, leading the Lakers past the Houston Rockets in the first round even though star guard Luka Doncic did not play in the series while fellow star Austin Reaves missed four of the six games.
Los Angeles was swept in the second round by the Oklahoma City Thunder, but James ended up averaging 23.2 points, 6.7 rebounds and 7.3 assists per contest across 10 games of postseason action.
It’s possible James will return to Cleveland for the 2026-27 season, but Johnson seems to just be making a prediction ahead of the offseason.
