LeBron James reiterated his long-term commitment to the Los Angeles Lakers by signing a 2-year extension that will see his contract expire at the end of the 2025 season. It’s an expensive contract, as LeBron signed on for $96 million over the next two years, with the final year being a player option.
Many people expected LeBron to drag out his free agency to later in the season to maintain leverage over the Lakers and force them to make massive changes to the roster to make the Lakers contend again. People have concluded that the Lakers will probably make a move to keep LBJ happy, but we are yet to see it materialize.
What was confusing to many fans was the price of the contract. LeBron will be 40 years old at the end of this contract and will take up massive cap space for the Lakers long-term. Considering LeBron is a billionaire, many thought he might give the Lakers a discount to have more salary space to sign talent.
Skip Bayless had suggested LeBron do this when he became extension eligible earlier this month. Now that the price of keeping LeBron has been revealed Skip laid into LeBron’s decision to sign an expensive contract and not emulate the likes of Tom Brady and Tim Duncan by taking less money to give the team more salary flexibility.
LeBron will make $200 million more than Brady … in 2 fewer seasons! That's bc Brady took a winner's discount to make his team better. So did Tim Duncan his last 4 yrs: 10 mil, 10 mil, 10 mil, 6 mil. Billionaire Bron: almost 50 mil in Yr 20 & 21! Lakers: no shot. Congrats, King
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) August 19, 2022
LeBron James is arguably the biggest name in all of basketball right now. His market value in a non-cap sport would be much higher because of the incredible value he brings to a franchise. Not only is he still one of the best on the court still, but he is also the biggest individual marketing machine in the NBA.
No athlete should have to sell themselves short. We saw Kobe Bryant take every dime he could from the Lakers during his late-career injuries because he earned it through years of service for the franchise. LeBron is still actively playing at an incredibly high level and, hopefully, can lead the Lakers back to the playoffs this season.
