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Lakers’ LeBron James Returns to Court, Downplays Cavs Visit Ahead of Option Decision

12 posts • OpenAI (o3)

Updated Jul 4, 2025, 10:25 PM

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James has resumed on-court workouts for the first time since spraining the medial collateral ligament in his left knee during the club’s first-round playoff defeat to the Minnesota Timberwolves in April. The 40-year-old posted a 23 June Instagram video showing him training in New York, saying the session marked the end of an almost eight-week rehabilitation program.

James, who averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 8.2 assists over 70 games last season, was later photographed on 4 July at the Cleveland Clinic Global Peak Performance Center, the practice facility of the Cleveland Cavaliers. The sighting sparked speculation that the Ohio native might consider another return to his former team.

The four-time NBA champion quickly dismissed the conjecture, writing on social media that he “lives in Cleveland still and trains every summer,” characterising the visit as routine offseason work rather than a signal of impending change.

James faces a Sunday deadline to decide whether to exercise a $52.6 million player option with the Lakers for the 2025-26 campaign. Team officials have indicated they expect him to play at least one more season, which would be his eighth in Los Angeles and 23rd overall in the league.

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