Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Two-year extension for LeBron
Keeping an eye on the world of sports during the pandemic:
LeBron James has agreed to a contract extension with the Lakers.
James’ agency, Klutch Sports, confirmed the deal Wednesday during the first week of training camp for the NBA champions. The Lakers are still finalizing their new contract with Anthony Davis, who’s also represented by Klutch CEO Rich Paul.
James’ extension is a twoyear, $85 million deal through the 2022-23 season. The fourtime NBA champion is getting the maximum deal to extend his tenure in Los Angeles, where he moved two seasons ago after his second stint with his hometown Cavaliers.
James’ previous contract ran only through the upcoming season with a player option for 2021-22, allowing the third-leading scorer in league history to become a free agent next summer if he chose. Instead, James committed to play through his 20th season with the Lakers, where he moved in 2018 after titlewinning tenures with the Cavaliers and Heat.
James turns 36 in four weeks, but the 16-time AllStar’s level of play hasn’t dipped after 17 seasons in the league. Davis and James teamed up last season to win the franchise’s 17th championship. James averaged 25.3 points and led the NBA with 10.2 assists before winning the NBA Finals MVP award while beating the Heat in six games.
James will make more than $39 million this season, more than $41 million next season and more than $44 million in the final year of his new deal, during which he will turn 39 years old.
When that season ends, he will become a free agent in the same year as his eldest son, Bronny, graduates high school.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver has said high school players will be able to go straight to the league in the near future, and Bronny is considered an elite talent. If that happened, James might want to join his son’s team.