LeBron James’ presence at the Cleveland Cavaliers’ practice facility earlier last week captured headlines. The appearance came amid rumors suggesting that James may request an exit from Los Angeles. Many didn’t bat an eye at James’ decision to be there. NBA analyst Skip Bayless, however, believes this is part of the long list of James’ cons.
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A player does not gain access to a team’s practice facility unless they are playing for that team. That said, James’ situation is different than most.
Not only did he play for the Cavaliers for 11 seasons over two stints in his career, but he is a legend for the franchise and the city. Shortly after the photo surfaced online, James broke his silence to put away the narratives that began circulating.
“I live here still and train every summer,” James said in a reply on X. “Got damn y’all bored man!”
And every summer since it was built. I live here still and train every summer. Got damn yall bored man! Go get a plate of food somewhere and enjoy the 4th of July!
— LeBron James (@KingJames) July 4, 2025
James stays in Ohio during the NBA offseason. His great relationship with the Cavaliers‘ management allows him access to their practice facility. LeBron’s words put to bed any notion that this is some sort of ploy to return to Cleveland. However, Bayless refuses to believe.
“I want to congratulate LeBron James and his elite team of spin doctors on the biggest scam in NBA history,” Bayless said on The Skip Bayless Show. “I’m calling baloney on LeCon James.”
Bayless finds it suspicious that it took this long for it to become public knowledge that James practices in Cleveland during the offseason. Especially considering the disappointing loss the Lakers were handed by the Timberwolves in the playoffs.
“Would you believe Lan even went to the trouble of flying all the way to Cleveland to be randomly photographed with some poor Cavs undrafted free agent prop that LeBron used as a prop at the Cavs facility so that LeBron could get this picture leaked out onto social media so everybody would write about?” Bayles rambled on.
Then again, the claim by Bayless is strictly opinionated with no facts to support it. The James family grew a ripe network in Cleveland during his 11 years as a Cavalier. It wouldn’t be out of the ordinary to return to a familiar place for the sake of not just himself but also his children.
The Cavaliers also couldn’t acquire James even if they wanted to. Cleveland is the most expensive team in the NBA ahead of the 2025-26 season. So they won’t be able to aggregate contracts to match up to LeBron’s $52.6 million salary.
It would only be a possibility if the Lakers were to buy out his contract, and then the Cavaliers make a trade to free up cap space. In other words, it isn’t possible.
If somehow James ends up on the Cavaliers during the upcoming season, then Bayless is completely justified in his take. But as things stand, his words don’t hold much weight.
Most importantly, though, every Bayless take on James needs to be taken with a pinch of salt. He has made a long and successful media career on the back of vitriolic hate for the Akron-born forward.
And his latest video, nearly 50 minutes long, just seems like another one of his long-winded attempts at discrediting James’ Hall of Fame career.
