Donovan Mitchell of the Cavs responds to rumors surrounding LeBron James of the Lakers.

As the 2025–26 NBA season winds down for the Los Angeles Lakers, LeBron James will see his contract expire and must decide what comes next in his career.

Dec 31, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) moves the ball against Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) during the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images | Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Although his tenure in Los Angeles appears to be nearing its conclusion, the 41-year-old four-time MVP is expected to draw interest in free agency if he opts to keep playing. One widely discussed possibility is a return to the Cleveland Cavaliers for a third stint, potentially providing a fitting final chapter to his legendary career.

Donovan Mitchell Reacts to LeBron James Rumors

As speculation about James’ future continues to build, Cavaliers star guard Donovan Mitchell addressed the topic during an appearance on SiriusXM NBA Radio.

“As a Bron fan, to be able to be a teammate would obviously be special, but that’s not something that’s in my control,” Mitchell said. “I can control what we have here. There’s always going to be reports. That’s natural. It’s going to be a thing, but at the end of the day, my main focus right now is trying to get this championship, and whatever happens, it happens.

“That’s not up to me, that’s not up to anyone else in the locker room. I’m big on believing in what I can control. But yeah, it’s LeBron James, but at the end of the day, that’s not my focus. I’m not here to worry about that. I know I’m going to get asked about that a bunch all weekend, but my focus is that we just traded for James Harden, Dennis Schroder, and Keon Ellis. Let’s try to find a way to get a ring.”

While Mitchell remains locked in on the 2025–26 season and is determined to guide Cleveland to its first championship since 2016, speculation about James possibly returning to the Cavaliers is unlikely to fade and may even grow stronger in the coming months.

Meanwhile, the Lakers—led by Luka Doncic and others—are maintaining a similar focus. With 28 regular-season games remaining and a challenging Western Conference schedule ahead, they are aiming to finish strong.

James, Doncic, and Austin Reaves will spearhead the push for wins, beginning with Friday’s matchup against Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers.