LeBron James agreed to extension after not being interested in teams with max cap space next summer

Adrian Wojnarowski: For LeBron James, he looked at the free agency landsacpe next summer, who might have cap space, and there was nothing that interested him enough, I’m told, to keep that option open and go into the season on an expiring contract …

Adrian Wojnarowski: For LeBron James, he looked at the free agency landsacpe next summer, who might have cap space, and there was nothing that interested him enough, I’m told, to keep that option open and go into the season on an expiring contract
Source: YouTube

What’s the buzz on Twitter?

Lev Akabas @LevAkabas
Watch the title of NBA player with the most career on-court earnings šŸ€šŸ’° get passed from Shaq to KG to @LeBron James šŸ‘‘
BAR! CHART! RACE! šŸ“ŠšŸ‡
(data from @spotrac) pic.twitter.com/n7y0maFqa012:27 PM

Justin Kubatko @jkubatko
šŸ“… On this day in 2020, the @Los Angeles Lakers LeBron James had 23 points, 17 rebounds, and 16 assists in a loss to the Blazers in Game 1 of their first-round series.
James became the first (and still only) player in NBA history to record at least 20p/15r/15a in a postseason game. pic.twitter.com/w8tQe2fPAd12:01 PM

Get Up @GetUpESPN
“If you’re putting Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis and LeBron James on the same team, yes, you could win a world championship with those three.”
šŸ‘€ @RealJayWilliams pic.twitter.com/KbGoHmeQ6111:57 AM

Lev Akabas @LevAkabas
With his contract extension yesterday, LeBron moved back ahead of Durant in the race for most guaranteed earnings in NBA history (and U.S. sports history, actually)
Read more from @kbadenhausen: https://t.co/RH08mvPSp0 pic.twitter.com/smkP7KdLJI11:57 AM

Sirius XM NBA @SiriusXMNBA
“He sent the message…I’m going to be here.”
Hear @Sam Mitchell tell @talkhoops why this was an easy decision for LeBron to sign an extension with the Lakers.
#LakeShow pic.twitter.com/2iJaofT1aN11:24 AM

StatMuse @statmuse
Most PTS + REB + AST in a playoff run:
1,146 ā€” LeBron (2018)
1,133 ā€” Shaq (2000)
1,089 ā€” Duncan (2003)
1,066 ā€” Barkley (1993) pic.twitter.com/GnV7ZknAva11:24 AM

Kurt Helin @basketballtalk
Another report LeBron ā€œadamantā€ Lakers make roster upgrades as part of extensionĀ talks nba.nbcsports.com/2022/08/18/anoā€¦10:01 AM
Tom Ziller @teamziller
LeBron commits another year of his life to a failing small business. Sad ziller.substack.com/p/lebron-commiā€¦9:14 AM
Nick DePaula @NickDePaula
Bronny debuts another LeBron 20 colorway šŸ‘€ pic.twitter.com/TXVTivvdeZ9:08 AM

Kurt Helin @basketballtalk
Notes from 2022 NBA schedule release: LeBron chasing Kareem, ā€œbaseballā€ series, nba.nbcsports.com/2022/08/18/notā€¦7:57 AM
Eric Pincus @EricPincus
Latest @BleacherReport Expert Takeaways from Reported LeBron James LA Lakers Extension bleacherreport.com/articles/10045ā€¦9:31 PM
Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
Iā€™ll be on @SpectrumSN at 6 pm PT to discuss LeBron Jamesā€™ extension, the Lakersā€™ schedule, Pau Gasolā€™s jersey retirement and more. pic.twitter.com/eyohxodhXK8:54 PM

Christos Tsaltas @Tsaltas46
With his new 2-year/$97.1M deal at Lakers, LeBron James’ career earnings are more than half-a-billion dollar.
From 2003 to 2025, James earns $528,992,480 from his basketball contracts. The number doesn’t include the deals w/ sponsorships, ads, etc.
Midas! #LakeShow #LeBronJames7:17 PM
NBA on ESPN @ESPNNBA
Where would you want to see LeBron break Kareem’s record? šŸ¤” pic.twitter.com/ar7yBNdJg26:29 PM

Kevin Pelton @kpelton
Wrote about the ramifications of LeBron James’ extension on the Lakers’ future and his own: es.pn/3K4DMs8 (ESPN+) – 6:06 PM
Kamenetzky Brothers @KamBrothers
Quick reaction to LeBron’s 2-year extension. Make sure to subscribe to @LockedOnLakers on YouTube for breaking news, along with the daily podcast.
youtube.com/watch?v=oynadGā€¦5:51 PM
Lev Akabas @LevAkabas
If LeBron remains relatively healthy for the rest of his contract extension with the Lakers (announced today), he will likely become the first NBA player to score 40,000 career points pic.twitter.com/HyRYC24l3a5:39 PM

Sirius XM NBA @SiriusXMNBA
LeBron James has reportedly agreed to an extension in L.A. through 2025.
Hear @adaniels33 & @Rick Kamla on why this is so big for the Lakers #LakeShow pic.twitter.com/xMAUCWGBlp5:05 PM

StatMuse @statmuse
Most games with 40/5/5:
68 ā€” James Harden
62 ā€” Michael Jordan
52 ā€” LeBron James
Harden recorded 66 of those games as a Rocket. pic.twitter.com/Tnm90j4G2Q5:01 PM

CBS NBA @CBSSportsNBA
2022-23 NBA schedule release, key dates: Warriors-Lakers on opening night; LeBron, Luka meet on Christmas Day
cbssports.com/nba/news/2022-ā€¦4:46 PM
Jorge Sierra @hoopshype
Highest-paid Lakers ever
Kobe Bryant: $328,237,108
LeBron James: $295,099,479 (including last deal)
Anthony Davis: $215,303,305 (same)
Shaquille O’Neal: $144,749,716
Pau Gasol: $120,116,000 – 4:32 PM
Micah Adams @MicahAdams13
Timeline of NBA’s all-time earner
2011 Shaq – $286M
2012 KG – $293M
2013 KG – $306M
2014 KG – $318M
2015 KG – $326M
2016 KG – $334M
2017 KG – $334M
2018 KG – $334M
2019 KG – $334M
2020 LeBron – $346M
2021 LeBron – $387M
2022 LeBron – $432M
2023 LeBron – $479M
2024 LeBron – $529M pic.twitter.com/ZoiErMxulJ4:07 PM
Tommy Beer @TommyBeer
LeBron is 1,325 points behind Kareem. If LeBron maintains his scoring average of 30.0 points per game from last season and doesn’t miss a single contest, heā€™d pass Kareem in his 44th game (at home vs. Houston on Jan. 16).
The Lakers’ 52nd game is vs. the Knicks at MSG on Jan. 31 – 4:02 PM
Rick Noland @RickNoland
LeBron extension almost assures there won’t be Part 3 in Cleveland – 3:46 PM
Adam Zagoria @AdamZagoria
Now on @ForbesSports
LeBron James Signs 2-Year, $97.1 Million Extension With Lakers, Paving The Way To Team Up With Bronny in 2024
forbes.com/sites/adamzagoā€¦3:46 PM
Tas Melas @TasMelas
LeBron James is gonna (at least) tie Vince Carter for most seasons played in NBA history. Some say LeBron’s best skill is his durability. – 3:45 PM
Malika Andrews @malika_andrews
Breaking News on NBA Today: LeBron James has agreed to an extension with Lakers. @Adrian Wojnarowski with reporting on contract details, timing and what it means for the Lakersā€™ roster construction moving forward. pic.twitter.com/IzqbAlyoKJ3:34 PM

Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
* @LeBron James is currently 1,325 points behind @Kareem Abdul-Jabbar‘s 38,387.
If LeBron averages 30.0 ppg (as he did last season), heā€™d surpass Kareem in his 44th game. If LeBron dips back to 25.0 ppg (his 2020-21 average), heā€™d surpass Kareem in 53 games. – 3:32 PM
Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
When @LeBron James takes the floor for the season opener (Oct. 18 at GSW), he will become just the 10th player ever to play 20 NBA seasons.
He joins: Kobe, Kareem, KG, Dirk, Moses, Vince Carter, Robert Parish, Kevin Willis and Jamal Crawford. – 3:30 PM
Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBS
For the ā€œa trade is comingā€ crowd based on LeBron extending, Iā€™d assume a Pacers trade is likelier than Kyrie if this is some sort of hint that a deal is imminent. I donā€™t think thatā€™s the case, but even if it is, Kyrie still feels tied to what happens with KD. – 3:18 PM
Adam Wexler @AdamJWexler
#Rockets schedule notes:
– LAC (J. Wall) at Hou, 11/2, 11/14
– OKC (Holmgren) at Hou, 11/26
– ORL (Banchero) at Hou, 12/21
– PHI (Harden, Tucker, House, Morey & probably morešŸ˜€ ) at Hou, 12/5
– LAL (LeBron) at Hou, 3/15, 4/2
– NO (Zion) at Hou, 3/17, 3/19
@SportsTalk7903:17 PM
Adrian Wojnarowski @wojespn
ESPN story on Lakers star LeBron James agreeing on a two-year, $97.1M extension that makes him highest earning player in NBA history. espn.com/nba/story/_/idā€¦3:13 PM
StatMuse @statmuse
Most guaranteed career earnings (millions):
$532 ā€” LeBron James
$499 ā€” Kevin Durant
$470 ā€” Steph Curry
$450 ā€” Damian Lillard
šŸ‘‘ pic.twitter.com/zOHQLi3Jus3:12 PM

Tim Reynolds @ByTimReynolds
2:57: LeBron extension news drops.
3: Schedule drops.
3:12: DO IT SEAN MARKS. DO IT. – 3:12 PM
Josh Lewenberg @JLew1050
The Raptors will open the 2022-23 season, the 28th in franchise history, at home vs Cleveland on October 19.
Other key home games:
vs Lowry/Heat: Nov 16, Mar 28
vs DeMar/Bulls: Nov 6, Feb 28
vs Kawhi/Clippers: Dec 27
vs LeBron/Lakers: Dec 7
vs reigning champion Warriors: Dec 18 – 3:10 PM
Christos Tsaltas @Tsaltas46
LeBron James stays in LA with the Lakers, at it was expected. He signed a new 2-year deal and that move propably can effect Bronny James. LeBron always said he wants to play with his son before his retirement and that can be in Cali. #LakeShow #JamesGang
sdna.gr/mpasket/994487ā€¦3:10 PM
Chuck Swirsky @ctsbulls
Bulls basketball is back !
The opener: Oct. 19th at Miami
Home opener vs Cavs on October 22.
Defending NBA Champions, Golden State play at the UC , January 15.
Bulls host Cleveland New Yearā€™s Eve night.
LeBron and the Lakers visit March 26. Bulls- Pistons in Paris Jan. 19 – 3:09 PM
Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBS
I guess my question is, what changed for LeBron between Aug. 4 and Aug. 17? He couldā€™ve extended 13 days ago. He didnā€™t. Maybe this signals a trade is coming, but it doesnā€™t feel that way. Is there something else here? – 3:08 PM
NBA on ESPN @ESPNNBA
LeBron James and the Lakers have agreed to a two-year contract extension, with a player option for the 2024-25 season, per @Adrian Wojnarowski šŸ’° pic.twitter.com/LpTPs0ejua3:08 PM

Chris Mannix @SIChrisMannix
LeBron’s decision to sign an extension with LA will end speculation about his immediate future, eliminating what could have been a potential distraction in the Lakers season. Focus now entirely on making this revamped roster work. – 3:07 PM
Kamenetzky Brothers @KamBrothers
LeBron stealing the spotlight from the NBA schedule dropping. Never forget whose league it still is, kids. AK – 3:07 PM
Tim Reynolds @ByTimReynolds
LeBron James, at his current scoring pace, could pass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar sometime around mid-January for the all-time NBA points lead — assuming he doesn’t miss games (or isn’t weighed down by $97 million more in his pockets.) – 3:06 PM
Josh Newman @Joshua_Newman
LeBron James: Perennially underpaid. – 3:06 PM
Tim Bontemps @TimBontemps
LeBron extending with the Lakers is massive on a couple of fronts. One, obviously, is him tying himself to the Lakers. Another is that this takes a big potential way for the Lakers to re-tool – him taking less money, like Harden did this summer – off the board. – 3:05 PM
Adi Joseph @AdiJoseph
LeBron James, extended:
L e B r o n J a m e s – 3:04 PM
StatMuse @statmuse
King James in year 19:
30.3 PPG
8.2 RPG
6.2 APG
1.3 BPG
97 million. pic.twitter.com/qeXELEJidZ3:01 PM

Sean Highkin @highkin
LeBron’s new extension means he can opt out after Bronny’s freshman season… – 2:58 PM
Kyle Goon @kylegoon
lol, LeBron would – 2:58 PM
Adrian Wojnarowski @wojespn
The two-year, $97.1M extension, which includes a 15 percent trade kicker, makes LeBron James the highest earning player in NBA history with $532M in guaranteed money. He surpasses Brooklynā€™s Kevin Durant. pic.twitter.com/UUHMspiKZp2:58 PM

Shams Charania @ShamsCharania
Sources: Four-time NBA champion LeBron James has agreed to a two-year, $97.1 million maximum contract extension with the Los Angeles Lakers, taking him under contract through 2024-25 season. – 2:57 PM
Adrian Wojnarowski @wojespn
BREAKING: Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James has agreed on a two-year, $97.1 million contract extension ā€“ including a player option for the 2024-2025 season, @Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul tells ESPN. James had been entering final year of deal worth $44.5M. – 2:57 PM
StatMuse @statmuse
Most PPG+APG last season:
38.1 ā€”Ā Trae
37.2 ā€”Ā Luka
36.5 ā€”Ā LeBron
@NBAMuse24 pic.twitter.com/dXn0HNeU1x2:04 PM

More on this storyline

 

Those around the team were confident that James signing an extension was likely, considering how much heā€™s enjoyed playing for the Lakers and living in Los Angeles. The primary complication in Jamesā€™ decision was that he has been privately adamant that the Lakers still need to improve the current roster and trade for superstar point guard Kyrie Irving, league sources have told The Athletic. -via The Athletic / August 18, 2022
Timpf highlighted the fact that LeBron was second only to Giannis in the in made field-goals in the restricted per game (6.5), converting at a 75.3% clip. Giannis shot 76% from the restricted area and averaged 6.6 makes per game. “So basically, LeBron James through 19 seasons, with all the mileage on his body, with the horrific [floor] spacing that the Lakers had last year with Russell Westbrook on the court, the 22nd ranked three-point efficiency team in the league, with all of those factors working against him, he was every bit as productive and efficient getting the basket as Giannis. That’s outrageous.” -via Sports Illustrated / August 18, 2022
Windhorst joined Jimmy Traina on the latest episode of the Sports Illustrated Media Podcast, and the ESPN reporter tempered the idea that he is LeBronā€™s closest media confidant. ā€œIn years past, I had messaged with him, but we both kind of moved on,ā€ Windhorst said. ā€œLeBron doesnā€™t have personal relationships like that with reporters, he hasnā€™t for a long time.ā€ -via Awful Announcing / August 18, 2022