LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers almost overshadowed the release of the official 2022-23 NBA schedule on Wednesday.
Right as the schedule hit the press, James and LA agreed on a new deal to keep the four-time champion in purple and gold for a few more years.
James signed a two-year, $97.1 million contract extension with the Lakers, with a player option included for the 2024-25 season.
The first half a billion dollar player in NBA history.
$532M career earnings. pic.twitter.com/8jQRa5d3I4
— StatMuse (@statmuse) August 17, 2022
This deal was massive, one of the biggest of its kind.
It made James the first half-a-billion dollar player in the history of the NBA.
His career earnings now stand at $532 million.
That’s a jaw-dropping amount that shows just how valued James still is at 37 years old.
Was this money well spent by the Lakers or a panicked move to retain an aging superstar?
LeBron’s Lakers
We all knew that the Lakers were going to do whatever they could to keep James on the team.
He’s easily the most important member of the team and a centerpiece for the franchise moving forward.
At the end of the day, they would do just about anything to keep him suited up for the squad.
While the money is really good for James, it will be interesting to see what else the Lakers do to keep him happy.
There are many rumors that James wants the front office to fight hard to pump up the roster, including making a deal for Kyrie Irving of the Brooklyn Nets.
But that is easier said than done, considering Brooklyn’s resistance to most deals offered to them.
In reality, offering James nearly $100 million for two years might be a lot easier than getting Irving.
