LeBron James to sign with LA Lakers
July 2, 2018
Star NBA basketball player LeBron James is set to sign a four-year $154 million (€132 million) contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, his representatives announced in a Tweet on Sunday night.
"LeBron James, four time NBA MVP, three time NBA finals MVP, fourteen time NBA All Star, and two time Olympic gold medalist has agreed to a four year, $154 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers," the Tweet by Klutch Sports Group read.
James can ink the contract as early as Friday. He will again be departing the Cleveland Cavaliers, his hometown team, to join one of the NBA's most storied franchises.
The 33-year-old is widely considered one of the greatest players in basketball history, having averaged 27.2 points, 7.4 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game in 1,143 career games.
He spent the first seven years at the Cavaliers after the team picked him with the opening pick of the 2003 draft. He spent four interim years at the Miami Heat from 2010 to 2014 before rejoining the Cavs in 2014.
James appeared in eight consecutive NBA finals from 2011 to 2018, winning two titles with the Heat in 2012 and 2013 and one with the Cavaliers in 2016. Cavs owner Dan Gilbert alluded to this title in a statement after James' departure.
"We will always remember the evening of June 19, 2016 as the Cleveland Cavaliers, led by LeBron James, ended the 52-year drought delivering the long elusive championship that many thought they would never see," Gilbert wrote.
Shortly after the contract announcement, James thanked his Cavalier fans on an Instagram post.
"Thank you Northeast Ohio for an incredible 4 seasons," James wrote. "This will always be home."
amp/msh (Reuters, AP, AFP)