There's always a buzz when LeBron James comes to town to face the Los Angeles Lakers, but for one particular reason, the anticipation to watch him play at Staples Center on Sunday night was higher than ever before.

The Lakers are desperate to lure the Cleveland Cavaliers superstar to L.A. this summer when he hits free agency and there was a star-studded, sell-out crowd in attendance to woo him.

The King received a warm welcome and got the loudest cheer from the crowd when his name was called during the introductions, with many of them standing for him too.

The fans even cheered some of his early baskets before eventually rooting for their own team who stole the show from LeBron.

L.A. secured a 127-113 win over the Cavs and once again showed how they're heading in the right direction with their exciting young team.

If this was an audition to show James what they're all about, they couldn't have performed any better.

The four-time MVP certainly took notice and praised Luke Walton for the way he has his team playing, comparing them to the Golden State Warriors.

"Since Luke took over, they've improved every single season, I think," said James, per ESPN. "They just try to implement that ball movement, that body movement that he got when he was in Golden State."

The three-time champion's endorsement of their style of play will add some fuel to the rumours that he could end up in Tinseltown next season.

But regardless of how much the talk intensifies, he won't be drawn into discussing his free agency plans but he understands all the outside noise that comes with it.

“I understand that I’m a free agent at the end of the summer, so I understand the frenzy that comes with it,” he told reporters at Friday’s shootaround, per USA Today.

“It’s not my first rodeo, but I don’t — it doesn’t bother me. I don’t talk about it too much. Like I said, I’ll handle that whenever it comes. I understand that the conversation happens here because first of all (the Lakers) have cap space.

“And this league is much better when the Lakers, the Knicks and the Celtics are all good at the same time. That’s just how it is. So, that’s what also creates the frenzy.”

The speculation surrounding his future will not go away and will only grow the closer we get to July.

With or without LeBron on their roster, the Lakers are one of the most talented young teams in the league and will only get better in the coming years.

They have been in terrific form recently having gone 7-2 since the All-Star break and have improved to 30-36 - their highest wins total since 2013.

Listen HERE to the first episode of the new GiveMeSport NBA podcast, featuring former Cleveland Cavaliers General Manager David Griffin.

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