LeBron James is going back to the Miami Heat ― at least that’s what many are speculating after the organization’s latest slip up.
The Miami Heat’s official YouTube page briefly leaked a live video stream titled “LeBron James Introductory Press Conference” that was set for July 27, 2026.
It has since been unlisted and made private. It seems that the video has been momentarily taken down, but not fast enough for internet scourers to collect their screenshots, screen-records and begin running with the narrative that James is headed back to the 305.
If it’s true, then at least we know that there will be an announcement within the next six days.
However, it seems that it was a mistake on the Heat’s social media department, according to Miami Herald reporter Anthony Chiang, who covers the Heat.
“It was a mistake by the Heat’s social media department while preparing for the possibility of LeBron picking the Heat. But there is no validity to it right now,” Chiang wrote on social media.
James made his first announcement that he would not be returning to the Los Angeles Lakers and exploring free agency on June 30.
He has since took NBA media, fans and the overall basketball world on a circus trip trying to be the first to guess where he’ll go play his record-setting 24th NBA season.
James, 41, had narrowed down his team search to a handful of teams. Leading the way are the Cleveland Cavaliers, Philadelphia 76ers and of course, the Heat. The Golden State Warriors were among teams in consideration for James, as well as the Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets.
However, the latter have not been spoke of lately. To add to that, Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards is already out on making a pitch because he knows that Minnesota wasn’t in James’ top three picks.
Hope still remains for Cleveland, Philadelphia and Bay Area fan bases, but if there’s any truth to this leak, get ready for fans to bring out those No. 6 jerseys in South Beach again.
James would be returning to a city and franchise that he first joined 16 years ago at age 25. He helped lead the Heat to back-to-back championships in 2012 and 2013, being named Finals MVP each year. He won two league MVPs in Miami, the same years he won titles.
In four seasons with the Heat, James averaged 26.9 points, 7.6 rebounds and 6.7 assists on 54.3% field goal shooting.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY Sports: LeBron James to Miami Heat? YouTube page leaks future press conference
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