Kendrick Perkins on Miami’s scheduled press conference for LeBron: 'THIS IS A SIGN!’ | First Take

And LeBron watched 2026.It has been 22 days and counting since LeBron told the Lakers he would play elsewhere this season and his free agency decision still looms.So naturally we're all looking for clues on the Kings next destination and the Miami Heat tossed a bit of an uproar Tuesday night when they posted a link to a scheduled live stream titled quote LeBron James introductory press conference followed by the date July 27 to the YouTube channel belonging to the team.So team spokesperson spoke to Shams and said that the club's social media department was preparing for the possibility of James signing and mistakenly posted the link to the team's YouTube page got Kendrick Perkins here ESPN radio host of unsportsmanlike Evan Cohen as well.So perk I got to ask you something or nothing here with the leak, if you want to call it that, that we saw from the Miami heat yesterday.

Well, first of all, good morning and happy Wednesday.You know what?This is a sign right now that we're getting closer to the decision.This is something, this is something is no way.Now listen, this is, this wasn't leaked by accident.Okay.

This was, those things don't just happen on the pet Raleigh's watch.Now we'll say this, this something, because This means that Miami is really in the hunt.They're in the thick of this.Like, LeBron James could possibly end up back in South Beach, you know, with Eric Sposia, Giannis, and Bam out of the bio.So I'm not gonna sit up and act like it's nothing.I mean, we still wanna make, hear from LeBron James himself, but at the end of the day, any information that we get or we could dive into, because I know all of us across the board, have been across the world in the basketball world has become investigators.

Like everybody's sitting up here investigating this.to figure it out, and trying to solve the problem because there are no clues whatsoever.This is actually the first real big clue that we've been able to see from an organization that LeBron James has interest in.

Yeah, and it's important to note, Evan, that the post was deleted eventually, um, but I can't help but think, I mean, so Perkz says this is not leaked by accident, and I know that Pat Riley isn't running the YouTube channel, and he's not running the social media strategy for this organization, but do you think it's something, or just a big nothing?

I think it's something, and it's the exact reason why LeBron is reconsidering the Heat, because they're the most prepared team in the NBA.That's what all of this is about.It's about every aspect of this organization being prepared for the possibility of arguably the second greatest player ever where his best stint as an NBA player came in the four years of Miami of returning to Miami.So it's not only the strength and conditioning.It's not only our exposure and his basketball staff.It's literally the entire organization sales marketing social media.

Everyone is ready for the possibility of this and LeBron James in his 40s is a grown man. with children and a wife and he's a real person that cares about those kinds of things.He doesn't want to go into a childlike organization and I'm not naming names with other organizations.He knows what he's walking into the most prepared.They know what's going to happen.If they get him, they know what's going to happen.If they don't get him, they know who's going to be on his team.

If he is in Miami and they know who's going to be on their team.If he's not every part of this organization is buttoned up and that's why he wants to go back because they're ready for anything that could happen.

Apparently not so buttoned up that they let this thing out there.But I mean, we it could again.It could just be they are.It could just be a clip like, you know, a clerical error here that they wanted to be prepared.I mean, you said they're the most prepared team here.So maybe they are trying to prepare in the event.

that something happens, but he did, they did give a specific date per July 27.So, so I say all that to say, yeah, the 27th that, that to me is sticking out.This wasn't just a DVD.What do you, what do you make of the date?The 27th?

Right.And it comes, if I'm not mistaken, fresh off the WNBA All -Star weekend.So that's the thing.If the timer was set on the YouTube page for the Miami Heat on the 27th, that means the rest of the teams that are pursuing LeBron James must know that the time is coming.Like is it like you said, it wasn't saying TV.No, no, the 27, which is Monday.

Okay, Monday, the 27th of July.And and so again, this is this is something where we know that LeBron James is having conversations with these teams, right?We know that Rich Paul is having conversations with these teams, right?We heard Pat Riley.right?Come out and tell to say doing Yannis's press conference that, Hey, we landed one big fish, but we're still going after another, which he was referring to LeBron James.

Cause there's no other big fish out there.They got a couple of goldfish and some, and some, and some catfish, but it's, you know what I'm saying?He trying to land that tuna.He tried to land that other tuna.He tried to set a record.And again, Pat Riley also said he doesn't have time to wait.

He's not trying to wait two or three years to try to win the championship.He basically said he wants to win now.I believe and I said this the other day.I believe that Miami is leading the charge right now for us being the front runner to land LeBron James Evan Courtney think about this for a second.Why in the hell would you want to go from living in LA, blue skies, great weather for the last eight and a half years to going to any city that's going to be dealing with snow?Like seriously, like LeBron James is at that point of his life.

And any athlete, former athlete or current athlete could tell you, Your body just feels a lot better.when you're able to wake up in warmer weather year -round.I'm just saying.

And winning immediately.And I think when you look at the LeBron James arc, he's not done.Like, that's the other part of this.We're talking about this retirement tour, this swan song.What player that averages 21, 7, and 6 would say they're done?He has never said, I want to leave on a high note.

Has not said that, right?He also has not said this is his last year.In fact, he has alluded to more than one year, which I would also then argue perk and Courtney that doesn't mean one team.Sure.He doesn't necessarily have one team left.It could be multiple teams that right now Miami gives him the best chance to do what he does best, which is handle the point the ball as a point forward.

If he wants to go somewhere for his life, which is important, obviously wife and kids, then the Golden State Warriors make the most sense.He could be with his friends.They could win basketball games and he can fly back and forth between LA and the Bay.But if he wants to win, and he knows exactly what he's signing up for.Miami is it.Do you know that when he played for the Miami Heat for those four years between 10 and 14, the owner, the team president, the general manager, and the head coach then are the same people that are in that exact same spot right now.

Not one person has changed.Not one.Oh, go back to Cleveland to play.It's Ty Lou there.Did I miss something?It's, it's, it's, it's, it's the David, David, David,

general manager?Colby Altman was there.I get it.Mike Gansey, okay, in Philly.He was there with him in Cleveland, but he wasn't there with him in Philly.Miami's the exact same team.

It's a no -brainer if basketball and winning basketball is where he wants to be.

It does feel like there's unfinished business with the Heat too and the way that it ended and obviously where he went after that and from a basketball fit and from an off -court fit.It might all make sense in terms of how it lines up.But there is something to be said about the idea of how much longer he's going to play.So we know there are still teams that play for LeBron whenever he does announce his decision.What we don't know is how much longer he plans on playing.But if you ask his agent Rich Paul, should not be expecting a retirement announcement.

Not just yet.Take a listen.

I think that, um, you know, it's a very unique position to be in.And, you know, it's something that, uh, you know, I think again, you have to be happy for a guy who's earned it.I asked him to find humility and peace, uh, while still playing the game.And if he can do that moving forward, I personally don't like to think about the end of it because, you know, he's got so much left in the tank, but that's his choice.

So, you both are in agreement that this is a multi -year venture here for LeBron James, that it's not, we're gonna get the decision, and that it's a one -year swan song, and then he's out.So, Perk, how many more years do you think he has left in him in the NBA?

I mean, to be honest with you, he actually could pull a Tom Brady.Like, LeBron James could play till he's 45.Like, he's turning 42 in December.LeBron James literally could play at this level he's playing at, at the age till he's 45 years of age.The one thing that kept Tom Brady in for us being able to play at an elite level untilhe was 45 was that he was in great shape.

Tom Brady took care of his body.Tom Brady mastered the game of football at the quarterback position.The one thing that we always praise Tom Brady about outside of everything for his greatness was his mentality and IQ for the game of football and the way that he studied the craft and was one of the best teachers of the game.That's LeBron James on both ends of the floor.And when you see LeBron James, who's by the way, we could debate the GOAT conversation till we're all gone from this earth.But the one thing I would not debate with anybody is that LeBron James is the best all -around basketball player this game has ever seen.

When you talk about a guy offensively and defensively, that you could put him at any position.If you need him at the point, he's gonna do that.If you need him to play the center position, offensively and defensively.Last year, he was spectacular setting screens and rolling to the basket.Like LeBron James is just that type of dude that he has mastered the game, and now he's knocking down the three -point shot at a consistent basis at a high level.You get LeBron right now, and if he's locked in, and Savannah lets him continue to play the game of basketball, he could do this till he's 45 years old.

I think he has years left.I agree with Perk on this one.But let me give you a scenario.So, when you're thinking about where he's finishing his career, there's an argument to be made that whenever it is, it's his last year, will be his worst year of basketball.Where is he comfortable doing that and why would he be comfortable doing that?See, the way I look at it is let's factor a few things in.

Is he playing his best right now?No.Is he playing his worst?Not even close.Can he still be an all -star based on his ability and not based on his name?The answer is yes.

He wants to win a championship.Miami gives him that spot.Also, we know he is doing everything in his power for his son, as any parent would do.Take a look at Bronny James' contract.One year this year, and then a team option the year after that.The Los Angeles Lakers have no maneuverability.

It's actually in their best interest to pick up the team option because he's a tradable contract.Then he's an unrestricted free agent.Bronny has improved.Does anyone think that any team is going to give him a multi -year deal?The answer to that is no.So the scenario that I see that gets him to 45, two years in Miami, Bronny has two years with the Lakers, final year in Cleveland, they have to give Bronny a multi -year deal as a result.

Ron, he's an unrestricted free agent.He gets his son three to four more years in the NBA, and it all aligns that way.And then the worst year of basketball could come on at the place where they're gonna accept him rightfully so no matter what.I don't think this is a one -year proposition.And, Court, I'll tell you one other thing.Dave McMenamin, in his great reporting on ESPN, had one thing he said that it really stood out to me.

He said, this is the final chapter of LeBron James' career.Sure.I'm not a great reader, but chapters usually have more than one page.So chapters would have multiple pages to it.And I think there's a scenario here where there could be two stops before his career is over.

Evan and I agree with you to a certain extent.I think LeBron James is to the point where he's finally finally letting brawny spread his wings.I think you know, I don't believe that brawny plays a part in this for us.How long LeBron James is going to play LeBron James has done his job when it comes to being a father and embracing brawny and putting and making sure that he putting putting him in position to be successful, but I think at this point LeBron, the only people that LeBron James is worried aboutis his two ladies that are in his life.I mean, you got three of them in his mama, Gloria, but I'm talking about Savannah and his daughter.

Now he's still, his sons are still there.Bryce is going to play now at Arizona.He's probably going to get some playing time.It was a development stage last year for him.I believe he was a red shirt freshman over there.But at the end of the day, this comes down to the love that LeBron James have for the game, and him still being able to compete at the highest level.

LeBron, still to this day, on this day, July the 22nd, 2026, is still a top 10 player in the NBA.And that's crazy.Going into this season, he is still a top 10 player in the NBA.It is not 10 players that we can sit up here and name that we're taking above LeBron James.And I'm gonna tell you this, What LeBron James did in that first series, in the series against the Houston Rockets, when he had to be that number one option, when Austin Reeves was out and Luka Doncic was out, that series right there gave him life again.Extra life.

We'll see if it's three more years of life.I mean, if he's playing until 45, that puts him in some unprecedented category.He turns 42 December 30th.Only three players have played at least 10 games in a season after turning 42 years old.Robert Parrish, Vince Carter, Kevin Willis.We'll see how much longer LeBron James is going to play beyond this decision.

All right.