‘I’m battling Father Time’: LeBron James reflective and tearful in possible Cleveland farewell | LeBron James

A 60-second tribute video honoring LeBron James has become routine over the past eight years whenever he returns to Cleveland, the city where his NBA journey began.

But Wednesday night at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse was different — and that was the case long before James’ Los Angeles Lakers fell, 129-99 to the Cavaliers in a nationally televised game.

For the first time, James found it difficult to contain his emotions.

As his name was announced during the pregame introductions, the crowd rose to its feet in a thunderous ovation that lasted longer than usual. A few minutes later, during the first break in the match, the tribute video was broadcast on the giant screen suspended above the pitch. James remained seated on the Lakers bench, watching intently with more than 20,000 fans who understood they were witnessing something more than a routine comeback.

The video featured a montage of historic moments during James’ Cavaliers career, highlighted by his unforgettable performance in Game 5 of the 2007 Eastern Conference Finals – when he scored 25 consecutive points, capped by a game-winning layup against the Detroit Pistons. It was the night that made not only James a superstar, but Cleveland’s as well.

Several times, James lowered his head and wiped his tears with the inside of his jersey. He then took a paper towel and dabbed his eyes before play resumed.

“By the time they put in place [the tribute video]the Detroit game, I looked up to the rafters and saw our championship banner [from Cleveland’s 2016 NBA title] … it was a lot of thinking,” James said after the game. “Be present in the moment. It touched me a little, that’s for sure. I was super grateful.

On Wednesday, James finished with 11 points, five assists and six turnovers, his worst performance in his return games, but the stat line was secondary to the emotion of the evening.

Now in his 23rd NBA season since being drafted No. 1 by the Cavaliers in 2003, James’ Hall of Fame resume includes being the league’s all-time leading scorer, four championships with three different teams, countless playoff moments and nearly every significant individual milestone the league has to offer. Yet as the finish line inches closer, moments like Wednesday take on deeper meaning. It may have been the last time James played an NBA game in the city where it all began.

“I haven’t made a decision about the future, but that could very well be the case. [my final game in Cleveland]”James said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s here or in Washington to play our next game, or at Barclays on this road trip. Obviously it means more here to me personally because I grew up 35 miles south of here.

What made the evening different was not the tribute itself — the Cavaliers have done that many times before — but the collective consciousness inside the building. It didn’t feel like a reunion tour stop. It was like a break. A moment when a city and its greatest athlete quietly acknowledged, without saying it out loud, that there might not be many of these nights left.

The ovation persisted. The fans remained standing. Some recorded on their phones. Others simply watched. Cleveland no longer demanded anything from James. The city offered its gratitude.

The emotions spread far beyond the field. The evening was even more meaningful because James was able to share it with his son and teammate, Bronny, as well as several family members watching from a suite.

“It was pretty cool to sit there and watch [Bronny] continue to live his dream,” James said. “My mother was here to watch over her son and grandson. I don’t even know how to put it all into one in my brain. It’s so weird, so cool and so surreal.

Bronny, who scored eight points in the loss, felt the weight of the moment himself. Like his game at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse last season, the crowd erupted when he entered the game and cheered loudly after his late dunk. It was a symbolic time spent in the same building where his father once ran the league.

“Very nostalgic to be here,” Bronny said. “I was here almost every day when I was a kid, so it feels good to be here. I was almost emotional myself. Being home is a different feeling. It’s crazy to come back and have so much love. It got it. It almost got me.”

James’ mother, Gloria James, was also thoughtful. She’s been there for nearly every step of her son’s career, from his first NBA games to when he raised Cleveland’s first championship banner in 2016.

“I’m not as emotional as I used to be, but I used to be a little bit,” Gloria James told the Guardian. “I’ve been here since day one, every game he’s played in the NBA. Thinking about all these years and being here tonight, it’s memorable and awesome.”

For those who know James best, the emotion was not surprising.

Chris Dennis, a former adviser to the James family, said the reaction inside the arena reflected how closely James’ story was tied to Cleveland’s identity.

“They were excited when LeBron came back into the game after the video, because the fans are a part of who he is,” said Dennis, managing partner of Tribute Sports. “A lot of these fans grew up watching LeBron. When you grow up with a guy that represents your city, you’re going to show that love.”

Dennis said the moment was harder because James understood, even if he didn’t say it publicly, that time was no longer on his side.

“I’m not basing this on anything I’ve heard,” Dennis said. “But he knows he’s towards the end of his career. It’s harder for him to prepare for games. It’s not easy for a 41-year-old to prepare and play at this level every night.”

Planning for the end is new for James, whose career has focused for most of its duration on what he would accomplish next. Now the question lingers quietly in the background: what comes next?

Several tracks remain. James, who spoke before the game about making offseason golf plans, could retire. He could re-sign with the Lakers. Or, in a storybook ending, he could return to Cleveland once again.

Only James knows which direction he will choose.

“The question gets asked more and that thought comes to mind more at 41,” James said. “When is the end and where is the finish line when it comes to hanging this thing up. I’m in a battle with Father Time, and I’m taking it personally – to see how many times I can be victorious against him. But I’m not going to be one of those guys who can’t get off the field. That’s for sure.”

On Wednesday night, near the Lakers locker room after the game, James gathered with his family members, including his mother, surrounded by love, memories and reflection – not knowing if it would be the last time in this arena.

Time will tell.