The LA Lakers small forward and one of the greatest NBA players of all time in his own right has recently signed a two-year extension with the Los Angeles outfit.
The new deal would see him earn $97m over the course of the two years a lucrative deal that would see the veteran at the franchise until the end of the 2024/25 season, as reported by ESPN Senior NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski who also explained the behind-the-scenes reasoning that went on in the deal.
According to Wojnarowski, LeBron looked at a free agency for next summer but it was not a prospect that interested him a lot. As the scenario of being a free agent was not one that intrigued the four-time NBA champion significantly, James signed the two-year extension that was on the table for him to put pen on paper since early August.
The 37-year-old veteran played another couple of years instead of approaching free agency, as he tries to win the Championship for the second time in three years after winning his fourth ring for the LA Lakers in 2020.
Wojnarowski also added that the $99.1million contract could well rise to $111m with an increased salary cap in place in the 2023/24 season. James would join Anthony Davis as the only Lakers players to be under contract after the 2024/25 season, after which they can opt out of their deals as the Lakers can add another top player to their roster.
IS THERE ANOTHER REASON BEHIND JAMES SIGNING THE NEW DEAL?
Wojnarowski also pointed out a significant Easter Egg and a potential reason why James signed a two-year deal in particular the NBA Insider pointed out that 2024/25 summer will be the first summer that James’ son Bronny will be eligible to be drafted into the NBA.
James has spoken about his intention to share the court with his son for several times, and it might not sound like as much of a far-fetched notion it does right now if we see the father-son duo share the court for a season at least.
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