The NBA’s all-time leading scorer, LeBron James, will return to the Los Angeles Lakers for the upcoming 2024–25 season after agreeing to a two-year maximum contract worth $104 million.
The 39-year-old will return for a record-tying 22nd season in the NBA, and according to reports, the new deal with the Lakers includes both a player option for the 2025–26 season and a no-trade clause, as James joins Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal as the only player with the latter.
Free agent LeBron James has agreed to a two-year, $104 million maximum deal to return to the Los Angeles Lakers, sources tell ESPN. Deal includes player option and no trade clause. pic.twitter.com/gAEOmvfAzZ
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 3, 2024
James, along with his son Bronny, who was drafted with the 55th pick by the Lakers in the 2024 NBA Draft and is on the verge of signing a rookie contract with the franchise, could be the first father-son duo to play in the NBA at the same time.
A four-time NBA champion and Finals MVP, James became the first player in league history to make 20 All-Star selections, surpassing Lakers legend and Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, whom he also passed to become the league’s all-time scoring leader. only player to eclipse 40,000 career points; he is fourth all time in assists, eighth in steals, eighth in 3-pointers made, and third in free throws made.
James, who will turn 40 in December and remains the only player in NBA history to surpass 40,000 career points, averaged 25.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 8.3 assists across 71 games last season, joining Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic as the only players to average 25, 8, and 7 in the league last season.
With this new deal, James’ career on-court earnings could reach around $530 million, making him the first player in NBA history to surpass the $500 million mark.
