LeBron James back for 22nd season in hopes of sharing Lakers’ floor with son: reports

LeBron James is making it official: He is coming again for a record-tying twenty second season within the NBA, one the place the league’s all-time scoring chief may share the ground along with his son Bronny as teammates with the Los Angeles Lakers.

James has agreed to a two-year contract to stay with the Lakers, an individual with information of the negotiations mentioned Wednesday. The second yr of the deal is at James’ choice and means he may grow to be a free agent once more subsequent summer season, mentioned the individual, who spoke to The Related Press on situation of anonymity as a result of the settlement had not been introduced publicly.

ESPN reported that the Lakers and James’ agent, Klutch Sports activities CEO Wealthy Paul, could agree on a wage barely lower than the max that James may have gotten — a transfer that would maintain the staff from reaching the second apron and protect some roster flexibility going ahead.

CBC Sports activities has not confirmed the reviews. 

Both means, the expectation is that James will make round $50 million US — give or take a bit bit — this coming season, pushing his profession on-court earnings to round $530 million and making him the primary participant in NBA historical past to eclipse the $500 million mark.

It is going to be James’ twenty second season within the NBA, tying Vince Carter for the league file. The Lakers chosen Bronny James final week within the second spherical of the draft, placing them in place to have the primary on-court father-son duo in NBA historical past.

Getting the deal completed clears one logistical hurdle: LeBron James wanted a brand new deal in place earlier than he may take the ground with USA Basketball for the beginning of its coaching camp in Las Vegas this weekend, one the place the squad will begin preparations for the Paris Olympics. James will play within the Olympics for the fourth time, his first since serving to the U.S. win gold on the 2012 London Video games.

He’ll flip 40 in December and averaged 25.7 factors, 7.3 rebounds and eight.3 assists final season — because the oldest energetic participant within the league.

Not solely is James the all-time chief in factors (40,474), however he is fourth in assists (11,009), sixth in video games performed (1,492), and eighth in each 3-pointers made (2,410) and steals (2,275).

His 20 All-Star alternatives is a file, as are his 20 appearances on the All-NBA staff. He holds the information for being each the youngest participant, and oldest participant, to make an All-NBA squad.

James grew to become the youngest to make All-NBA when he was voted onto the staff for the 2004-05 season. This previous season, he grew to become the primary participant to be age 39 or older in what grew to become an All-NBA marketing campaign.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Tim Duncan had been each just some days from turning 39 when the common seasons resulted in what grew to become their remaining All-NBA campaigns, Abdul-Jabbar’s being 1985-86 and Duncan’s being 2014-15. James performed in 71 video games this previous season, the final 42 of these coming after he turned 39.