Kendrick Perkins doesn’t believe the Miami Heat’s viral upload was just an innocent mistake.
Speaking on ESPN’s “First Take,” Perkins said the Heat accidentally posting a video titled “LeBron James Introductory press conference” on Tuesday night was too significant to ignore.
“Those things don’t just happen under Pat Riley’s watch. … This means that Miami is really in the hunt. They’re in the thick of this. LeBron James could possibly end up back in South Beach.”
Perkins called it the “first real big clue” of the offseason from an organization he believes has a legitimate shot at signing James.
The Miami Herald later reported that the deleted video, which was scheduled to be published on July 27, was mistakenly uploaded early while the Heat’s social media team was preparing for the possibility of James returning.
James starred in Miami from 2010 to 2014, winning two NBA championships while earning Finals MVP honors twice and league MVP awards in 2012 and 2013 before returning to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Pat Riley has previously admitted he was disappointed when James left, believing the Heat were on the verge of building a dynasty.
His comments over the years have continued to fuel speculation about a reunion.
It has been three weeks since James informed the Los Angeles Lakers he would not return next season, and pressure is growing for him to choose his next team.
Kendrick Perkins convinced we got first ‘real big clue’ of LeBron James’ free agency https://t.co/kuWzJJ1z72 pic.twitter.com/TDX6aCm9sB
— California Post (@californiapost) July 22, 2026
