From LeBron James to Jason Kidd, NBA’s Greatest Second Stints Ranked

After months of uncertainty, Kawhi Leonard is officially going to the Raptors. Leonard won a championship with Toronto in 2019 and, now seven years later, will look to do so once again.

Another notable return of this offseason was Damian Lillard signing a three-year, 42 million deal with the Blazers, reuniting him with the team that drafted him. Kawhi’s return wasn’t without its hiccups, and Dame’s form after an Achilles tear remains uncertain, but we’ve seen players make big impacts in their second stints with teams before. 

5: Al Horford

Horford doesn’t have the individual accolades of the others on this list, but he has always provided a winning mentality. After leading the Florida Gators to two NCAA titles, Horford looked to replicate that success in the NBA. He was a big part of some really good Hawks teams, but they only got as far as the Eastern Conference Finals.

After his ninth season in Atlanta, Horford moved to Boston, where, once again, they were unable to ascend to the top of the Eastern Conference. He had a few forgettable seasons with the Thunder and Sixers, but he finally earned his hardware in his return to Boston.

At this point, much older, Horford provided great defense, timely shot-making, and heart, bolstering the Celtics' bench and becoming a fan favorite in Beantown. He was a vital piece of the 2024 championship squad and, ultimately, of Celtics history, thanks to his second run with the team.  

4: Rick Barry

Rick Barry’s combination of individual and team success is what makes his return to the Warriors so remarkable. He began his career in San Francisco, winning rookie of the year and earning All-NBA first team honors in his first two seasons. He subsequently transferred to the ABA before returning five years later.

During his second stint with the Warriors, he led them to a championship and made All-NBA four more times. He dominated on both ends, leading the league with a whopping 28 shots per game and 3 steals per night.

He also famously led the NBA in free-throw percentage during his career. While the first half of his NBA career was impressive, it was the second half that made him NBA royalty. 

3: Jason Kidd

 Depending on how you look at it, Jason Kidd actually returned to an old team multiple times. He was drafted by the Mavericks, where he was named Co-Rookie of the Year with Grant Hill in a tie. He spent only a year and a half there before being traded to the Suns and eventually the Nets.

Kidd made All-Star, All-NBA, and All-Defensive teams, and received MVP votes in Phoenix, but it’s in New Jersey where he’s remembered.

He led the Nets to back-to-back finals appearances and finished second in the MVP race during his first year there. Never able to get over the hump, Kidd returned to Dallas in a supporting role, where he finally won a championship.

His elite court vision and veteran leadership were key to one of the most unlikely championships of all time.

He returned to the Nets as well, but not as a player. He coached them for one season, but tension with the front office ended his second Nets stint quickly.

His coaching career wasn’t all bad, though, as he coached the Mavericks to the finals in 2024. The main focus for us, however, is his playing career, in which case his role on that magical finals run puts him at the three spot. 

2: Steve Nash

Steve Nash is most known for his time in Phoenix, but most fans don’t realize he actually played there twice. Nash began his career at the end of the Suns’ bench, starting in just eleven games over two seasons before moving to Dallas. He became an all-star for the first time as a Maverick and even finished top 15 in MVP voting in two separate seasons.

That’s when he went to Phoenix for the second time and absolutely transformed them. In his first season back in the desert, the Suns improved by 34 games, and Nash won his first of two consecutive MVPs. He led the league in assists for three straight years and became one of the most efficient shooters ever, qualifying for the 50-40-90 club four times and narrowly missing it several others.

While he never won a championship, the way Nash completely reinvented the Suns and the way offense is played as a whole earn him a place on this list. 

1: LeBron James

The Cleveland Cavaliers struck gold when they received the first pick of the 2003 NBA draft, selecting Ohio native LeBron James. LBJ quickly established himself as one of the premier talents in the league, but eventually decided to leave Cleveland to compete with the Heat.

Two championships later, The King returned to the Cavs, arguably the most noteworthy comeback in basketball history.

He led the Cavs to their first-ever title win and finished in the top five in MVP voting every year following his return. James led Cleveland to the finals in four straight years, sparking the most recognized rivalry of the 2010s with the Golden State Warriors.

Still very much in his prime, LeBron’s talent never faded during his second run with the Cavs, and he provided the greatest championship comeback in basketball history.

His absurd numbers, highlights, and achievements during his second stint with the Cavs defined 2010s basketball for an entire generation of basketball fans.