LeBron flip was 1st step

The NBA is coming back, and so is LeBron James.

After reports Wednesday night that the Lakers — led by James — and the Clippers had voted to leave the bubble following Wednesday’s three games not being played out of protests by players against racial inequality and police brutality, there was a shift in thinking, leading to the decision to return at a meeting among players on Thursday.

“‘They’re going with whatever you [James] want to do,’ ” a source told The Athletic, recalling a conversation between a player and James at the Wednesday night meeting. “‘Do you want to play or do you not want to play?’ ”

The answer was he in fact wanted to continue the postseason.

Yahoo Sports’ Chris Haynes reported James and others who had opposed returning to play had realized it was in their best interest to finish the season and relayed that to others in Thursday’s meeting. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski tweeted that several Lakers talked through issues until the early hours Thursday after Wednesday’s initial meeting ended amid “uncertainty.”

“He wants to play,” a source close to James told The Athletic.

The postseason is expected to restart Friday or Saturday. There was another meeting later Thursday between players and owners to discuss action moving forward on what can be done to address social justice issues.

Shortly after the reports came out of the resumption of the playoffs, James tweeted: “Change doesn’t happen with just talk!! It happens with action and needs to happen NOW! For me @IPROMISESchool kids, kids and communities across the country, it’s on US to make a difference. Together. That’s why your vote is @morethanavote.” He finished it by adding a Black Lives Matter hashtag and emoji.

On Wednesday, three playoff games were postponed out of protest following the Sunday shooting of Jacob Blake, who is black, by police in Kenosha, Wis.