LOS ANGELES (AP) — LeBron James has agreed to a two-year, $97.1 million contract extension through the 2024-25 season with the Los Angeles Lakers, his agent announced Wednesday.
Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul said the league’s top deal makes James the highest-paid player in NBA history. His new deal includes a player option that would keep the second-leading scorer in NBA history with the Lakers beyond his 40th birthday in December 2024. The Lakers officially announced the extension Thursday.
The 37-year-old James is heading into the final year of his most recent contract with the Lakers, who signed the four-time NBA MVP and four-time league champion in July 2018. The new deal means the 18 times All-Star will earn $46.7 million this season.
Barring injury, James is likely to overtake Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the NBA’s career scoring king this winter.
James and the Lakers also hope to be in contention for another title if James and Anthony Davis can return to full health after an injury-plagued 2021-22 ended without a playoff appearance.
James’ new deal syncs with Davis’ most recent contract extension with the Lakers, allowing both to leave the Lakers or negotiate new deals in 2024. Both superstars are represented by Klutch.
OFFICIAL: @KingJames has signed an extension with the #LakeShow 👑 pic.twitter.com/Es3YoXXQhO
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) August 18, 2022
James’ new commitment to the Lakers also mutes lingering talk of his possible departure as a free agent or in a trade. James doesn’t seem to be going anywhere on social media or in his public appearances, and he praised the hiring of new Lakers coach Darvin Ham.
James has missed significant portions of the season due to injury in three of his four years with the Lakers. He was largely healthy in the prolonged 2019-20 season when the Lakers won the franchise’s 17th NBA title in the Florida bubble, and he has been the dominant player from his prime when he was at his best in the next two years.
Although the status of his contract inspired many conversations in the offseason, it seemed unlikely that James would move after spending the last four seasons of his 19-year career with the Lakers. His family is based in Los Angeles, where his oldest son, Bronny, is a 17-year-old college basketball prospect who plays at Sierra Canyon High School in Chatsworth.
James has occasionally said that he intends to play on the same team with Bronny when his son makes it to the NBA. Although many obstacles remain between young James and the NBA, he could be eligible for the draft in the summer of 2024.
