LOS Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James is taking a pay cut.
The 39-year-old, who is entering his 22nd NBA season, wants the Lakers to sign an “impact player.”
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James signed a two-year extension worth $101.35 million, though it’s a deal that could be worth $104 million, according to ESPN.
It’s clearly not the most dramatic of pay cuts and is perhaps more symbolic than anything else.
It’s the first time in more than a decade that James has signed a deal below the maximum level.
ESPN reported that it wants to help the Lakers avoid salary caps in the future.
It was also reported by The Athletic that the deal also comes with a player option and a 15% trade kicker.
LeBron’s agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, said he wants the Lakers to acquire an “impact player.”
LeBron is expected to play with his son Bronny on the Lakers team in the 2024-25 season.
The pair will be the first father-son duo to play together on the same NBA team.
The elder James opted out of the final year of his $51.4 million contract last month.
But he re-signed with the Lakers after they selected Bronny with the No. 55 overall pick in the NBA Draft.
LeBron will turn 40 later this year.
He won four NBA championships in his career with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat and Lakers.
The Lakers will be determined to have a strong season ahead, especially after seeing the Boston Celtics win the NBA title.
This Celtics success was their 18th, placing them above the Lakers in the all-time rankings.
The Lakers, in turn, lost to the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs.
What does the new TV deal mean for the NBA?
By US Sun Assistant Sports Editor Damian Burchardt.
The new television rights deal promises to be a big win for NBA players.
The league is expected to more than double revenue from its media partners, pocketing around $6.9 billion per year, which will inevitably lead to a huge salary cap increase in 2025-26.
This will cause the value of players’ contracts to skyrocket.
Projected numbers suggest we could see the first $100 million per year deal being signed soon.
Boston Celtics All-Star Jayson Tatum is currently set to earn the highest single-season salary in NBA history, bringing in $71.5 million in 2029-30.
It seems like basketball fans would be on the losing side of the fight if the NBA and TNT actually split.
Inside the NBA is a unique sports entertainment program, as evidenced by ESPN’s continued failure to create its own version of the show in recent years.
The NBA won’t be the same without Kenny and Ernie trying to make sense of Shaq and Chuck’s endless fights every Tuesday night.
New Lakers coach JJ Redick insisted last week that Bronny deserves to be drafted.
There have been claims from some quarters that he was only brought on board because of his famous father.
Redick spoke after the younger James thanked his head coach and vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka for everything they “gave” him.
“Rob and I didn’t give Bronny anything,” Redick said.
“Bronny earned this. Bronny earned this through hard work.”
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
