LeBron James has agreed a two-year, $85million contract extension with the Los Angeles Lakers, the CEO of the NBA star's representatives Klutch Sports has confirmed.
Rich Paul, whose agency represents James, told The Athletic and sports network Stadium of the 35-year-old's reported new deal – which runs until 2023 – on Wednesday.
James – a four-time NBA winner and four-time MVP – joined the Lakers after leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2018, yet a groin injury marred his first season with the team, whose playoff chances were derailed.
However, James returned to form in sensational style in the 2019-20 season, inspiring the Lakers to their joint-best start in franchise history.
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After a break due to the coronavirus pandemic, James ended the regular season as the league leader in assists for the first time in his career, averaging 10.2 per game.
James scored 38 points to lead the Lakers to victory over the Denver Nuggets in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals, before turning in an even better display in Game 5 of the Championship series against his former team the Miami Heat.
He registered 40 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists, though his efforts were not enough to claim victory.
Nevertheless, the Lakers triumphed in the next game for a 4-2 series victory, with James claiming his fourth NBA title and fourth Finals MVP Award, becoming the league's second-oldest player – behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar – to win the prize.
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According to Paul, James' deal will run until the end of the 2022-23 NBA season and will be worth up to a maximum of $85m.
James, who is preparing for his 17th season in the NBA, recently talked up a youthful Lakers side's chances of repeating their success in 2021.
"We can [repeat]. I mean, it's that simple," James said on an episode of the podcast 'Road Trippin''.
"We absolutely can. First of all, it all starts with health. You have to have some luck. If we can stay healthy...
"We did get younger. We have a 27-year-old point guard [Dennis Schroder]. We got the 26-year-old Sixth Man of the Year award [winner] in Trezz [Montrezl Harrell]. We got younger. We got Marc [Gasol], who is a Defensive Player of the Year and his IQ, not only playing against him in the NBA, but also playing against him versus Spain with the national team..."
The Lakers' 2020 title was their 17th championship, but their first since 2010.
