The Lakers Have Agreed To Deals For Both LeBron And Bronny James — Here’s How Much They’ll Make

ByJoey Heldon July 3, 2024inArticles›Sports News

The Los Angeles Lakers took Bronny James with the 55th pick of last month’s draft. Shortly after, his dad, LeBron James , opted out of his contract . There really wasn’t much concern that the elder James would head to a different team, we were mainly waiting to see what his new contract would look like.

Now, we have our answer: $104 million over two seasons. The deal includes a player option for the 2025-26 season and a no-trade clause. James and Bradley Beal of the Phoenix Suns are now the only two players in the NBA with no-trade clauses.

The Lakers also agreed on a deal with Bronny James, inking the rookie to a four-year, $7.9 million contract. The final year of that deal is a team option. That means LeBron and Bronny are set up to be the first father-son duo to ever take the court together in an NBA game.

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Bronny James (L) and LeBron James (Alex Bierens de Haan/Getty Images)

LeBron will turn 40 on December 30, while Bronny’s 20th birthday is on October 6. Most players don’t continue playing into their 40s, but of course, LeBron is not most players.

He set the league’s all-time scoring record in 2023, breaking the previous mark of 38,387 set by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar . James is the only player to surpass 40,000 career points, and he’s in the top ten in a handful of other categories, including assists (fourth), steals (eighth), and made free throws (third).

He’s also the only player to earn 20 All-Star appearances and be named to 20 All-NBA teams, 13 of which were first-team selections. Though the Lakers have been inconsistent since he joined in 2018, either missing the playoffs or losing the first round in four of six seasons, he did win a championship in 2020. That came two years after a string of eight straight finals appearances when he was with the Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers — three of which ended in titles.

Put simply, he’s had an incredible career.

Fair or not, LeBron’s success puts more pressure on Bronny. Nobody is expecting anything near what LeBron has put up; Bronny is 6'1″ without the ridiculous strength and athleticism of his father. But because of who his dad is, he’ll likely face more criticism from the media, fans, and perhaps even opposing players.

Still, Bronny and LeBron have the chance to do something no father and son have ever done before. When they first check into a game together, it will be yet another historical moment in the James family tree.

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After He Opted Out Of A $51.4 Million Contract, What’s LeBron James’s Next Move?

ByJoey Heldon July 2, 2024inArticles›Sports News

This is often a tense time of year for NBA teams. We’re in the period between the NBA Draft and the start of free agency. There are a few days where teams technically can’t negotiate, and then about a week where they can, and come July 6, they can officially sign with a team, whether it’s their current squad or a new one. This is also the time when guys who have player options choose to either play their final year or opt out of their contracts. Paul George informed the Los Angeles Clippers he’d be opting out of his $48.7 million contract for next season, and LeBron James did the same with the Los Angeles Lakers, opting out of his $51.4 million deal.

Early reports seem to indicate George is on his way to another team, with the Philadelphia 76ers being the frontrunner. We’ll keep an eye on his movements, but for now, let’s focus on LeBron. The Lakers used the No. 55 draft pick on his son, Bronny James . If you’ve paid attention to the college and foreign basketball scene, you’d know Bronny James was not a top 58 (the number of picks in this draft) or even a top 100 player this past season.

But when your dad is arguably the greatest player of all time, you can get your foot in doors that aren’t open to everybody. Now, the question is what the elder James plans to do.

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Harry How/Getty Images

It seems like James is set on staying with the Lakers and at least getting the opportunity to play with his son. They would be the first father-son duo to ever take the court together. LeBron has accomplished plenty in the NBA, and while in Los Angeles, he set the all-time scoring record in 2023. Why not do something else historical in the City of Angels?

If James does return to the Lakers, he’ll have a choice. He could either sign for a long-term deal to maximize his earnings, take a pay cut to allow the Lakers to strengthen the roster around him, or continue the “one-and-one” contracts he’s signed in the later stages of his career. These deals are for two years, but the second is a player option. With the salary cap increasing quite a bit every year, James has ensured he’s getting the highest amount possible each season.

Few players could bet on themselves with such regular success. James has avoided major injury while continuing to be a top player in the NBA, so he can dictate his contracts a bit more than just about everyone else in the league.

But with Bronny in tow, will LeBron go the pay-cut route instead? He turns 40 this season, and the Lakers, as constructed, are probably not good enough to win the championship. However, if James could lure a savvy veteran or two, the Lakers could be in business.

Whatever James decides to do, it’s very likely we’ll witness history this upcoming season. And that’s never a bad thing.

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Anthony Davis Just Signed The Largest NBA Extension Ever, Next Season He’ll Make 70% Of Michael Jordan’s NBA Career Earnings

ByJoey Heldon August 4, 2023inArticles›Sports News

  • Anthony Davis
  • LeBron James
  • Michael Jordan
  • Rich Paul
  • Taylor Swift

Anthony Davis joined the Los Angeles Lakers before the start of the 2019-20 NBA season, the result of a trade with the New Orleans Pelicans. That season was suspended for more than four months because of the Covid-19 pandemic. When play finally resumed, Davis, LeBron James , and the rest of the Lakers ultimately won the championship.

The Lakers haven’t been back to the NBA Finals since, but after a strong end to this past season, they’re feeling good about their chances. That means signing one of their stars to a massive contract extension.

Davis and the Lakers agreed to a three-year, $186 million deal to keep Davis in L.A. through the 2027-28 season. The team will now pay Davis $270 million over the next five years. Davis will average $62 million per season in the new deal, which is the largest annual contract extension the league has ever seen.

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Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Davis became eligible to sign his extension on Friday and didn’t wait long to make it happen. He opted for financial security over the potential to make even more money by taking shorter deals — something his teammate has done with great success .

Despite the franchise’s championship in 2020, things weren’t nearly as rosy the next two years. The Lakers barely made the playoffs as the No. 7 seed in the 2020-21 season, losing in six games in the first round to the Phoenix Suns. The following year was even worse, as the Lakers missed the postseason entirely. Davis sat out more than half of his team’s games due to various injuries, appearing in just 76 of a possible 154 contests.

The deal is also big news for Rich Paul . He represents both Davis and James (who’s signed through next year and then has a player option in 2024-25) and has secured close to $370 million for the two L.A. stars. The NBA has a rule that caps agent fees at 4% for veteran players, so Paul will make about $14.8 million simply from these two contracts alone. His overall client roster is extensive — his players will earn a collective $500 million this upcoming season.

The Lakers are investing in Davis for the long term. Now, his goal is to help the franchise add another championship banner (or several) to its rafters.

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