NEW YORK -- If the rumor mill is to be believed, LeBron James is entering his final regular-season games and prepping for his last playoff run as a Cavalier.

But James isn't thinking that way in the run up to the Cavs' last two games -- both against the Knicks -- and the playoffs that start next weekend.

"I don't think like that," James told cleveland.com, after the Cavs practiced Sunday in New York. "I'm too much of a guy that's stuck in the moment. I don't do too much of that."

James, 33, in year 15 of his illustrious career, has a $35.6 million player's option on his contract for next season. He's expected to decline it and become a free agent, and since last summer, speculation has run both hot and cold that he would leave the city and organization for a second time.

The Cavs, you might imagine, want him back for as long as he wants to stay.

Billboards recruiting James have been paid for by fans in Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Cleveland, Portland, and now New York, where the Cavs play Monday night. It stands across from Madison Square Garden and says: "King of New York? Prove it."

James' public commentary on the subject has been consistent. He's said time and again he intends to finish his career as a Cavalier, including as recently as the start of training camp in September; he's insisted he doesn't think free agency about during the season; he's acknowledged that he and his team has a decision to make once the season ends. So it's not like James has said emphatically that he isn't going anywhere, either.

When it comes time for James to weigh his options, he said Sunday that the most important component in determining whether he stays in northeast Ohio or leaves will be his family.

"My family. That's all that matters," James told cleveland.com. "I want to continue to win at the highest level, because I know I can still do it as an individual, and then my family. My family is what's most important to me, more than anything."

James and his wife Savannah, who are both from Akron, are raising three children in their Bath Township mansion. LeBron Jr., 13, is in the seventh grade, so he's a year and change away from high school. James Sr. remains a vocal, passionate supporter of Akron St. Vincent- St. Mary's, and his son could go there, though the family will consider multiple schooling options in northeast Ohio.

Savannah James' family lives in northeast Ohio. As recently as last week, James remarked on being able to watch a civil rights documentary he watched at the family's home with not only Savannah, but her mother and James' mother.

The James family also has a home (well, two at the moment) in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles. They wouldn't have those homes if they didn't like to live there, too. But there is also a reason they never sold their Bath Township estate while James played for four seasons in Miami -- northeast Ohio is home.

"That's just a small piece of it," James said, when asked if the decision comes down to where his family wants to live. "We make joint decisions all together, all the time. Once we get to it, my agent and my team we will all tackle it the right way but my family plays a big part in it. And winning."

Yes, winning. If the Cavs win these next two games, they will finish with a 51-31 record -- identical to last season's mark. It's a remarkable feat, given they traded Kyrie Irving and didn't really replace him. The man whom they acquired to try and replace Irving, Isaiah Thomas, was injured until January and then wasn't the same player when he turned. Kevin Love missed 21 games with a broken bone in his hand. Tyronn Lue missed two weeks with health issues.

And of course there was the trading away of six players, including Thomas and James' best friend, Dwyane Wade, on Feb. 8.

James, meanwhile, is enjoying arguably his best season. He's third in the NBA in scoring (27.7 ppg) and second in assists (9.2 apg). Also, James has played in all 80 games thus far; he's never played a full, 82-game season.

"I've just tried to keep everything above sea level," James said. "Keep everybody in tune. I've been consistent, as much as I could be, keeping everybody focused and I've been available for every game.

James also said: "I've been in the right mindset and I've just been constant stability for this franchise this year, and just tried to keep everybody above it." Critics would say James has been as described for the last two months, but was moody and didn't play well in January as he fretted over the Cavs' roster.

James' teams have gone to seven consecutive Finals and eight overall. He led the Cavs to the Finals in 2007 and from 2015-17, winning the organization's only title in 2016.

"We did what we wanted to do and I did want I wanted to do when I came back, and that's to bring a championship to the city," James said. "That was always one of my goals I think our fans, everybody showed us our appreciation after we won it."