LeBron James will make his return to Cleveland on January 28, 2026, when the Los Angeles Lakers face the Cavaliers at Rocket Arena, per Dave McMenamin.
This game marks the only scheduled visit for James back to Cleveland during the 2025-26 NBA season. It comes exactly 10 years after he led the Cavaliers to their historic 2016 NBA championship.
James spent the first seven and a half seasons of his career with Cleveland, becoming the franchise’s all-time leading scorer. His early years were marked by steadily rising stats, including a career-high 31.4 points per game in 2005-06.
After a successful stint with Miami, where he won two titles, James returned to the Cavaliers in 2014. He guided the team to four consecutive NBA Finals appearances, capturing the 2016 title — the city’s first professional sports championship in over 50 years.
Since joining the Lakers in 2018, James has maintained strong production, averaging 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists last season.
The Lakers open the season against the Golden State Warriors on October 21. Los Angeles will face the Houston Rockets on Christmas Day.
