LeBron James is entering his 21st season in the NBA. He will also turn 39 in December, making him the oldest active player in the league today. Despite his advanced age, LeBron is still expected to contribute at a high level once the regular season begins, at least judging from the contract extension he signed with the Los Angeles Lakers.
James’ current contract is a two-year extension worth $99 million. This contract will keep him with the Lakers until the 2024-25 season, as long as he chooses the player option to stay with the Lakers.
If LeBron James re-signs, he will remain with the team even if he turns 40 next December. The contract makes him one of the highest-paid players in the league right now, and also gives him a chance to play with another team if he wants to play with his son, Bronny James, who is expected to be drafted in the 2024-25 NBA Draft. Signing.
LeBron James’ salary reflects how much the Lakers believe in his talent, despite being the oldest active player in the NBA.
LeBron James has had two contract extensions in his career
LeBron James only signed two other extensions before coming to the Los Angeles Lakers and signing a massive two-year extension with them.
The first time was in 2007, when he signed a rookie contract extension with the Cleveland Cavaliers. The extension is for four years and is worth $60.4 million. This was a huge leap since he had only signed a rookie contract before this.
After that contract expired, he made the infamous decision to play for the Miami Heat alongside Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. He signed a four-year contract with the Heat, where he won his first two championships.
After his tenure with the Heat ended, he returned to the Cavaliers in the 2014-15 season. However, he only signed a one-year contract with them. I have stayed in the team since then. While in Cleveland, he reached four consecutive NBA Finals with the Golden State Warriors.
The Warriors won Game 1, but the Cavaliers redeemed themselves in 2016. That year, James successfully fulfilled his promise to bring a championship to Cleveland, even though the Warriors went 73-9 in the regular season.
Unfortunately, LeBron and the Cavaliers lost to the Warriors in their next two finals. He then moved to the Lakers and won another NBA championship with Anthony Davis.
Also read: LeBron James has a chance to become basketball’s all-time scoring leader after surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s NBA record.