LeBron James has announced that he will return to the NBA for a record-tying 22nd season, where he will play with his son Bronny as teammates for the Los Angeles Lakers.
James has agreed to a two-year contract extension with the Lakers, according to a source familiar with the discussions. The second year of the contract is at James’ option, which means he could become a free agent again next summer, according to the person, who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because the agreement had not yet been made public.
According to ESPN, the Lakers and James’ agency, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, may settle on a contract somewhat lower than the maximum that James could have received, preventing the franchise from reaching the second apron and preserving some roster flexibility in the future.
In any case, James is expected to earn roughly $50 million – give or take a little bit – this season, bringing his total on-court earnings to around $530 million and making him the first player in NBA history to surpass the $500 million mark.
James will enter his 22nd season in the NBA, tying Vince Carter for the league record. Last week, the Lakers picked Bronny James in the second round of the draft, putting them on track to become the first on-court father-son tandem in NBA history.
Getting the agreement done removes one logistical hurdle: LeBron James needs a new contract in place before taking the court with USA Basketball for the start of its training camp in Las Vegas this weekend, where the group will begin preparations for the Paris Olympics. James will compete in the Olympics for the fourth time, the first since he helped the United States win gold in the 2012 London Games.
