MIAMI, United States: The Miami Heat said an accidentally published LeBron James Heat livestream did not confirm his return, describing the page as part of the franchise’s contingency planning by its digital team.
The scheduled YouTube event, titled “LeBron James Introductory Press Conference,” briefly listed a July 27 date before the Heat removed it. Screenshots circulated widely on social media after the deletion.
A Miami spokesperson told ESPN that staff prepared the page in case James chose to rejoin the organisation, but mistakenly made it public.
The Heat said James had not agreed to a contract, and the page did not represent an official announcement.
Social media users also linked the mistake to a Heat vacancy for a Director of YouTube Strategy. However, the job advertisement reportedly appeared several weeks before the livestream incident.
The franchise has not announced that it fired or disciplined an employee, and no staff member has been publicly identified.
CBS News Miami analyst Mike Cugno called the page an encouraging sign but said it did not prove James would return to South Florida. He suggested the preparation showed Miami had seriously considered a reunion.
Read: LeBron James Heat Return Rumour Grows After Presser Slip
James won two NBA championships and two Finals MVP awards during four seasons with the Heat before returning to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2014.
His agent, Rich Paul, has said the four-time NBA champion will not rush his next decision. The source also identified Golden State, Cleveland and Philadelphia as possible destinations, while James has not publicly selected Miami.
