King James officially a Laker

Four-year deal worth US$154mil

NEW YORK: Los Angeles can collectively exhale. LeBron James (pic) is officially a Laker.

The club announced on Monday afternoon that James has put pen to paper on the reported four-year, US$154mil (RM618mil) deal, just as James’ representation, Klutch Sports Group, confirmed the news with a tweet of their own.

“Today is a great day for the Lakers organisation and Lakers fans all over the world to welcome LeBron James, a three-time NBA Champion and four-time NBA MVP,” Lakers president of basketball operations Magic Johnson said in a statement.

“LeBron is special. He is the best player in the world. He loves to compete and is an awesome leader who is about winning and making sure that his teammates are successful.

“The Lakers players are excited to have a teammate who has been to nine NBA Finals. It’s a huge step closer to returning the Lakers to the playoffs and to the NBA Finals.”

James, 33, has averaged 27.2 points, 7.4 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game in 1,143 career contests.

He also has been named NBA Finals MVP three times.

Last season was his first in which he played in all 82 regular-season games, and the eighth in a row in which his team advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals (four in Miami before each of the last four seasons in Cleveland).

Meanwhile, the Denver Nuggets officially signed centre Nikola Jokic and guard Will Barton to new deals, the team announced.

According to previous reports, Jokic’s max-level extension is worth US$147.7mil (RM590mil) over five years, while Barton’s is a four-year deal worth US$54mil (RM216mil), with a player option in the fourth year.

Jokic reportedly agreed to forgo the player option in exchange for the club declining their US$1.6mil (RM6.4mil) option for 2018-19.

The Nuggets also re-signed swingman Torrey Craig to a reported twoyear, US$4mil (RM16mil) deal.

The Clippers officially announced the re-signing of guard Avery Bradley, whose deal was reported last week as a two-year, US$25mil (RM100mil) pact.

Bradley, 27, appeared in six games with the Clippers after arriving in the Blake Griffin trade last season, averaging 9.2 points before having season-ending surgery to repair a sports hernia.

Recognised as a top wing defender, Bradley has averaged 12.3 points over his eight NBA seasons, the first seven of which were with the Boston Celtics. — Agencies