EL SEGUNDO, Calif.– The Los Angeles Lakers are continuing to believe that LeBron James will lead them to another NBA title. That is why the team is giving James millions of dollars more to stay with the team. The Lakers signed James to a contract extension, a deal that will take him to the 2024-24 NBA season as a Laker.
The Lakers, through Vice President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Rob Pelinka, announced they have signed the global superstar to a contract extension. Per team policy, the terms of the deal were not released. However, it has been reported that the deal is worth as much as $97.1 million over the course of two years.
“LeBron is a generational basketball player who has proven to be even more impactful as a human being,” Pelinka said. “We are thrilled to continue our partnership with him, ensuring he’s a driving force of Lakers culture for years to come. The Lakers platform has proved again and again to be an ideal place for the game’s all-time greats to thrive and achieve. We are thankful LeBron has experienced the power of that. With his transcendent talent, unrivaled passion and dedication to causing powerful change in our society, LeBron continues to cement his legacy in Los Angeles and around the globe.”
In his four seasons in Los Angeles, James and the Lakers have missed the playoffs twice, found themselves being ousted out of the postseason in the first round by the Phoenix Suns one year, and won the franchise’s 17th championship during the Covid-19 shortened season.
The Akron, Ohio, native originally signed with Los Angeles on July 9, 2018. He appeared in 56 games (all starts) last season for the Lakers, averaging 30.3 points (.524 FG%, .359 3P%), 8.2 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.1 blocks, marking the 18th consecutive season he has averaged 25+ points and adding to an already-standing NBA record.
In four overall seasons with the purple and gold, James has averaged 27.0 points (.509 FG%, .353 3P%), 8.0 rebounds, 8.2 assists and 1.2 steals in 223 games (all starts). A four-time NBA champion, James has suited up in 266 career NBA Playoff games, averaging 28.7 points, 9.0 rebounds, 7.2 assists and 1.7 steals in 41.5 minutes per contest.
He led the Lakers to their 17th NBA Championship in 2020, recording 27.6 points, 10.8 rebounds, 8.8 assists and 1.2 steals en route to his fourth NBA Finals MVP award. His 7,631 career points scored in the postseason is the most in league history.
The 18-time NBA All-Star moved into second place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list and extended his NBA record double-digit scoring streak to 1,096 games in 2021-22. James also became the only player in NBA history to record 10,000+ points, 10,000+ rebounds and 10,000+ assists in his career.
Last season, the four-time MVP received his NBA-record 18th consecutive All-NBA honor of his career and was named to the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team. On the world stage, James helped lead Team USA to two Olympic gold medals in 2008 and 2012.
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