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On Tuesday, the Miami Heat sent speculation into a frenzy that LeBron James was returning to South Beach, with a “LeBron James Introductory Press Conference” video scheduled for July 27 on their YouTube channel.
That video was promptly removed from the Heat’s YouTube channel, and according to ESPN, a Heat spokesperson claimed it was mistakenly uploaded as the team anticipates potentially signing James as a free agent. He has yet to make any announcement, though.
However, ESPN NBA analyst Kendrick Perkins isn’t buying that it’s a mistake, claiming during his “First Take” appearance that it was a “big clue” and signals that James’s official decision is coming very soon.
“This is something. This wasn’t leaked by accident. Those things don’t just happen under Pat Riley’s watch,” Perkins said, adding, “This means Miami is really in the hunt, in the thick of this. … I’m not going to sit here and act like it’s nothing. … This is actually the first real big clue that we’ve been able to see from an organization that LeBron James has interest in.”
Read more: Paul Pierce Reveals Best Fit for LeBron James Next Season
Perkins said everyone around the world has “become investigators” trying to figure out what James’s next team will be, but also said he believed that Miami is “leading the charge.” James departed from the Los Angeles Lakers after eight years with the franchise, which included helping them win another championship in 2020.
Following the press conference video leak that the Heat claimed was a mistake, their odds surged on Kalshi for the NBA icon’s next team. As of this writing, Kalshi had the Heat at 49%, with the Cleveland Cavaliers, another of James’s former teams, now at 28%.
Previously, there had also been mention of the Philadelphia 76ers, Golden State Warriors, and Minnesota Timberwolves as teams in the running, but now it could be down to two teams, based on Kalshi.
Returning to South Beach would be massive for James, as it’s the only team he won two championships with during his career, and the organization is already set up for success. James played for the Heat from 2010 to 2014 alongside fellow All-Stars Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh to form a “Big Three” in Miami.
They captured back-to-back championships in 2012 and 2013, before James decided to return to his original team, the Cavaliers, where he won another.
Since James started his career in Cleveland, it seems like an ideal spot to finish things before he officially retires, but the team situation may not be up to his preference.
Playing in a city with much better weather, on a team that already has a winning coach in Erik Spoelstra, and alongside new star teammates Bam Adebayo and Giannis Antetokounmpo, seems to make more sense for James, who wants to be happy and contend for another title.
Read more: Kendrick Perkins Rips Kevin Durant Over Offseason Workout
For more about the NBA, head over to Newsweek Sports.
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