Greg Cote: LeBron's best choice is return to Heat. And it isn't close.

MIAMI — Sixteen years later, the choice LeBron James is about to make is still the Decision with a capital D. It is that big even now, and that’s astounding. And the tea leaves indicate it will be the Miami Heat again — which is as wonderful now, though wholly different, as it was in 2010 when LeBron first took his talents to South Beach and changed everything.

Then, he was the young superstar just blossoming into his prime.

Now, he is the gracefully aging old G.O.A.T., a bit gray in the beard, but still defying logic, still mattering, still impactful.

If this were a boxing ring, Father Time would be flat on his back, out cold, with LeBron James lording over him like Muhammad Ali in 1965.

Athletes are not supposed to do this. LeBron, at 41, is a freak of nature, a unicorn in sneakers.

Ali’s career began as Cassius Clay in the Fifth Street Gym on Miami Beach. It ended two months shy of his 40th birthday in a loss to Trevor Berbick in Nassau in 1981. He was no longer floating like a butterfly, or stinging like a bee.

Even the greatest in sports seldom go out on their terms, with a final chapter written as they would like.

For Dolphins icon Dan Marino it happened as the 1999 season ended with a 62-7 playoff loss in Jacksonville. Marino was 38, with bulky braces on his knees, his mobility shot. He would not play again.

Just this month, tennis great Serena Williams came out of four years’ retirement at Wimbledon and lost in the first round to Maya Joint, who has never won a tour event and was ranked No. 87. Serena is 44 now. And played like it.

Sunday in East Rutherford, N.J., all the magic in Lionel Messi turned mortal with the world watching as his Argentina team was dominated by Spain in a 1-0 loss in the men’s FIFA World Cup final. Inter Miami’s star, after a great tournament, suddenly was unable to be the difference and looked like a 39-year-old in his final World Cup match. He wept on the field afterward.

LeBron James is different — or so far, at least.

He may yet succumb as Father Time gets up off the mat. Or he may go out atop a double-decker bus in one last championship parade down Biscayne Boulevard.

Some athletes defy odds and do go out on top.

John Elway won his first two Super Bowls in his last two seasons. Rocky Marciano retired from the ring 49-0.

And LeBron James isn’t done being great yet.

It is why so many NBA teams have been after him since he announced he was leaving the Los Angeles Lakers in free agency.

The Heat are now the betting favorite to get him (again), followed in order by Cleveland, Philadelphia and Golden State. And that order makes sense.

If LeBron is after one last championship to gild an epic career, why would he go to an already aging Golden State team? Steph Curry is pitching the Warriors, but that team, even with LeBron, cannot compete with the rising youth of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Oklahoma City or Victor Wembanyama and San Antonio out West.

Philly makes no sense, either. What is the over/under on Joel Embiid’s inevitable next injury?

Cleveland is a legit contender — but for emotional reasons more than basketball reasons. The Cavs have a spent James Harden and a coach you can’t quite trust. The Akron-born LeBron can always spend the ceremonial farewell homecoming season in Cleveland ... after he wins one (or two) more rings in Miami.

The Heat of all the finalists offers LeBron the best available teammate in Giannis Antetokounmpo, the best coach in Erik Spoelstra and the best days of LeBron’s career — four straight NBA Finals and two championships in 2010-14. James left with some acrimony, but Heat president Pat Riley says the relationship has “thawed.” The two embraced in February when L.A. unveiled a Riley statue for his time leading the Showtime Lakers.

Antetokounmpo, Bam Adebayo and LeBron would form a new Big 3 that would allow James to handle the ball as much as he likes, and with spacing from better overall 3-point shooting accuracy than any other contender for his services. As much as that, a return to the Eastern Conference gives James a less treacherous path to the Finals than he would face in the West.

I say that knowing New York just won the championship and the Knicks are presently the East favorites again, but watch those betting odds shift overnight if LeBron anoints Miami again as is now expected. If it doesn’t instantly make Miami the East favorite, it would make the Heat what they have not been in four straight years of play-in purgatory: a legit contender again.

As for what might be expected of LeBron 2.0 in Miami at age 41? I would take what he gave the Lakers last season: 33 minutes per game, 20.9 points, 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds from a 6-9 locomotive who may have lost a step but maintains every scintilla of the hoops IQ and passion that have made him an all-time great.

Miami and Riley scored the biggest get of this NBA offseason with the trade for Giannis. Signing LeBron might be the second-biggest prize.

And if you doubt James’ continuing impact as a top-tier NBA star, as some who are age-obsessed do, consider that commissioner Adam Silver has acknowledged the league is withholding announcing its 2026-27 league schedule because where LeBron lands will impact how many marquee games that team is awarded.

“We don’t have an announcement to make just yet,” a smiling James said coyly just this past weekend.

Take your time, LeBron. But if what’s coming is the Decision we hope for and dare say expect ... welcome back.