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Los Angeles Lakers megastar LeBron James has agreed to a two-year, $97.1 million contract extension that includes a player option for the 2024-25 season, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul told ESPN on Wednesday.
The extension, which includes a 15% trade kicker, makes James the highest-earning player in NBA history with $532 million in career guaranteed money, surpassing Brooklyn Nets superstar (for now) Kevin Durant.
James, who turns 38 on Dec. 30, is limited to signing a two-year extension because he will be 38 or older when his current deal expires, a rule in the league’s collective bargaining agreement.
LeBron adds 97 million to his billion dollar checking account
After another monster year of earnings, totaling $121.2 million before taxes and agents’ fees over the last 12 months, Forbes estimated in June that James has officially become a billionaire while still hooping as arguably the best player in the league.
The 37-year-old James, who missed the playoffs this year for just the fourth time in 19 seasons, is the first active NBA player to make the billionaires list.
On the court, with the NBA announcing it will league-wide retire the Boston Celtics phenom Bill Russell’s #6, LeBron James may choose to keep the number or switch back to #23 or another. According to Sportskeeda, the NBA will allow all players who currently wear No. 6 to continue to use the number if they choose to.
LeBron is walking and breathing History
In yet another soon-to-be victory for the Chosen One, James is set to strengthen his claim as the “best player ever” in the upcoming NBA season. While in pursuit of his fifth Championship ring, this 2022-23 will likely crown King James as the all-time NBA points leader.
While Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar clutches to his 38,387 career points, James is currently at 37,062 points of his own. As a player well-known for making his teammates better, James has also spectacularly amassed enough points to stake his place in one of the most sacred record places in the NBA.
Though a 2023 championship is much less certain than his probable claim to the all-time scoring title, James has routinely put himself in position to dominant in the NBA for nearly 20 consecutive seasons and the contract signed on Wednesday is reflective of his irreplaceable and historic value.
LOOK OUT AND BLESS JAMES…