LeBron James ‘extremely happy’ in Los Angeles, would only leave to play with Bronny

Sources briefed on the matter stress that LeBron James is extremely happy in Los Angeles despite the Lakers’ back-to-back rocky seasons. He and his family, by all accounts, have grown increasingly entrenched in Southern California since James signed …

Sources briefed on the matter stress that LeBron James is extremely happy in Los Angeles despite the Lakers’ back-to-back rocky seasons. He and his family, by all accounts, have grown increasingly entrenched in Southern California since James signed with the Lakers in the summer of 2018.
Source: Marc Stein @ marcstein.substack.com

What’s the buzz on Twitter?

Marc Stein @TheSteinLine
Add LeBron James’ contract extension to the Kevin Durant/Kyrie Irving/Donovan Mitchell/Russell Westbrook transactional sagas in an NBA August not exactly as dormant as advertised … here’s the full breakdown in your latest This Week In Basketball column: marcstein.substack.com/p/decision-tim…1:18 PM
J. Kyle Mann @jkylemann
2010 lebron was not of this world pic.twitter.com/7IprfPgab112:03 PM

StatMuse @statmuse
LeBron most PPG on the road against a team:
33.9 vs Cavaliers
30.1 vs Heat pic.twitter.com/Lt2247sqBk10:53 AM

Chris Mannix @SIChrisMannix
NEW @TheCrossover Pod: @Brian Lewis on where things stand with KD, what the Nets want and would they run it back? Plus: @Chris Fedor on the Sexton stalemate, Cavs expectations and the chances of (another) LeBron reunion. Links: bit.ly/2w1G5e29:15 AM
Jeff Zillgitt @JeffZillgitt
Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Chris Buescher’s No. 17 Ford Mustang will feature the LeBron James Family Foundation paint scheme at the Aug. 7 NASCAR Cup race in Michigan.
RFK Racing is a subsidiary of Fenway Sports Group, of which James is a partial owner. pic.twitter.com/pbyuu7rSpJ10:19 AM

Sirius XM NBA @SiriusXMNBA
Check out this week’s Forward Progress on SiriusXM Sports!
🏀 Former President Comments on LeBron/Transgender Athletes
⛳ Charles Barkley on LIV Golf
🏈 Kyler Murray’s Peculiar Contract Stipulation
📻 Listen Here: https://t.co/4WWVn8AE6J pic.twitter.com/7ZQcrAzChh9:58 AM

StatMuse @statmuse
Most playoff runs averaging 30 PPG:
12 — Michael Jordan
7 — Jerry West
6 — LeBron James
5 — Kobe Bryant pic.twitter.com/3BZ1lBFOpB9:51 AM

Jabari Young @JabariJYoung
Morning #SportsBiz move:
LeBron James Family Foundation will have its logo featured on @RFKracing driver Chris Buescher No. 17 Ford #Mustang car at the Aug. 7th NASCAR Cup Series Race in Michigan. #NBA #Lakers pic.twitter.com/OvTcHIZ7Vt8:37 AM

StatMuse @statmuse
Most 4th quarter points in the last 5 seasons:
2,384 — Giannis Antetokounmpo
2,127 — LeBron James
2,092 — James Harden
2,054 — Donovan Mitchell
1,996 — Russell Westbrook pic.twitter.com/SKOQ4rcvSa10:11 PM

StatMuse @statmuse
Most games started since 2010:
957 — DeMar DeRozan
939 — Russell Westbrook
894 — LeBron James pic.twitter.com/zkrDlyplyw5:53 PM

StatMuse @statmuse
Players to average 20+ PPG in their rookie season (active players):
22.5 — Blake Griffin
21.2 — Luka Doncic
21.0 — Carmelo Anthony
20.9 — LeBron James
20.5 — Donovan Mitchell
20.3 — Kevin Durant pic.twitter.com/iAElIPNKBp9:29 AM

More on this storyline

 

The prevailing thinking in league circles holds that only the chance to play elsewhere alongside son Bronny James, who will be eligible for the 2024 draft and continues to develop as an NBA prospect, would spur LeBron to push for an L.A. exit. -via marcstein.substack.com / July 29, 2022
James basically has three options. He can play out his current contract at $44.5 million and become a free agent after his 20th NBA season. Or he can sign a one-year extension worth $46.7 million … or a two-year maximum extension worth $97.1 million (and presumably containing a player option for Year 2). James, remember, turns 38 on Dec. 30. The league’s Over-38 rule, explained in much more thorough detail here via Keith Smith’s Spotrac coverage, prevents him from signing anything longer than a two-year extension. -via marcstein.substack.com / July 29, 2022