LeBron James has confirmed that he will return for his 22nd season in the NBA, which ties the league record. This season could see him playing alongside his son Bronny as teammates on the Los Angeles Lakers.
James has agreed to extend his contract with the Lakers for two years, according to someone familiar with the negotiations who spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press on Wednesday.
The second year of the contract allows James the option to become a free agent again next summer. ESPN reported that the Lakers and James’ agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, may have settled on a salary slightly below the maximum, a decision aimed at maintaining roster flexibility for the team moving forward.
Regardless, it’s expected that James will earn approximately $50 million for the upcoming season, bringing his total career earnings from playing basketball to about $530 million. This milestone would make him the first NBA player to surpass the $500 million mark in career earnings.
This upcoming season will mark James’ 22nd in the NBA, tying the league record held by Vince Carter. The Lakers recently drafted Bronny James in the second round, positioning them to potentially field the first father-son duo to play together in NBA history.
On Wednesday, the Lakers announced that Bronny James has signed his first NBA contract. The four-year deal includes a team option for the final year and is valued at $7.9 million, with his rookie season expected to earn him about $1.2 million.
