CLEVELAND — It’s easier for LeBron James to dribble through a fall on an NBA court than it is to walk out of this arena after a game. No matter how many years he lives in Los Angeles, this will always be his home.

There is always one more photo to take, one more hug to give, one more autograph to give. A sea of ​​at least 40 people, mostly friends and family, waited for James in the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse corridor after the Los Angeles Lakers’ 134-110 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday.

That’s standard procedure here, especially since the Lakers only make one trip per season. James has gotten used to it over the years. He does not get impatient and greets every guest with a warm smile and enough time for a short conversation and a few photos.

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What made this trip unique is that Bronny James stood next to him for the first time, wearing a white Lakers quarter-zip. Eventually, Bronny got tired of waiting and found something else to do.

“Where’s Bronnie?” James asked no one in particular 17 minutes after he left the Lakers interview room and began working the crowd of familiar faces. He still hadn’t reached the exit of the arena, but at least he was getting a little closer. “We have to go.”

One of these days, LeBron James will actually go.

How many homecoming games does he have left here after 22 NBA seasons?

That’s what I wondered when he was introduced to a thunderous ovation before the game, when the crowd cheered his first dunk down the court, and when it erupted again when LeBron and Bronny were both recognized on the scoreboard during a timeout in the first quarter .

How many ovations are left? How long can this continue?

When James played for the Cavs for the second time, we had a conversation about retirement one random night in the visiting locker room in Philadelphia. It’s rare for James to think about such things, but I caught him one evening.

“I will never embarrass the game,” James told me. “I won’t stick around so long that I embarrass myself or this match. This game was too good for me. It gave me too much.”

He has kept his word. He’ll be 40 in two months, and he’s still averaging 20 points per night. He scored 26 points in Wednesday’s loss. It’s actually absurd. He doesn’t embarrass this game; he reinforces it.

James has nothing left to achieve but extend the all-time scoring to unimaginable heights. His final career bucket list item was playing with his son. He accomplished that on opening night, watching from the bench Wednesday as Bronny scored his first NBA basket: a stepback corner jumper from just inside the three-point line. That this happened in Cleveland, in front of a sold-out crowd that chanted his name throughout the fourth quarter and erupted again when he scored his first basket, was poetic. Bronny went to high school here. He was 11 years old and posed on the court next to J.R. Smith when the Cavs won their championship — a photo the Cavs posted outside the Lakers’ locker room to welcome Bronny home.

“Pretty cool,” said LeBron.

This crowd gave Bronny the kind of ovation he will never receive in any other city or arena. Throughout the fourth quarter of what was a blowout, the crowd chanted several times for Bronny to be in the game. When he finally got off the bench and checked in with 5:16 to go, he received another huge ovation. The crowd roared again when he scored his first basket. It was surreal and loud enough to pass for a Lakers home game.

“It felt good out there,” Bronny said.

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This is what the James family means to Cleveland now. It took a long time to get here, but all the bitterness of LeBron leaving twice seems to have disappeared. No other city and athlete has as complicated a history as LeBron has with Cleveland.

From adored native son to traitor, to forgiven and now voraciously cheered as a visitor, James is receiving the kind of ovations he never got again when he returned as a member of the Miami Heat – for obvious reasons. In his mind, returning to Cleveland and winning a championship made up for all the pain. Judging from his reception here Wednesday, the city agrees. It has been a turbulent journey with wild cheering, burnt jerseys, vicious boos and ultimately a championship parade.

“We have spent many years here as part of this community,” James said. “Many great memories on the floor, but also many great memories off it.”

James has hinted at retirement in recent years. He signed a two-year contract before this season, but next year is a player option. One wonders if he’ll be ready to walk away after this season, which would have made Wednesday his final appearance in Cleveland.

James has already stated that he wants to play in all 82 games. The last – and only – time he did that was his final season in Cleveland. It’s reasonable to believe that James knew for most of that 2017-18 season that this would be his last season in Cleveland.

Is playing in all 82 this year his way of saying goodbye?

I’m inclined to believe that James wants the farewell tour, that he’ll announce his retirement early enough to give every city a chance to recognize him on his way out. He likes to be loved.

Just to be sure, I asked him on Wednesday as he left the arena if this could be it.

Could this be his last match in this arena?

James paused for a moment, then stopped for another photo and another hello before answering.

“Probably not. Probably not,” he said. “Bronny told me to stay for Bryce now.”

Bryce James is in high school and won’t be eligible for the NBA for another two years.

LeBron was joking. Probably. Maybe.

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(Photo of LeBron and Bronny James: Jason Miller/Getty Images)