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LeBron James 'agrees to $104MILLION, two-year deal to return to Lakers' after Los Angeles drafted his son Bronny in the second round
LeBron James is going to play with his son, Bronny, after all.
ESPN is reporting that the 39-year-old LeBron has agreed to a two-year, $104 million max deal to return to the Los Angeles Lakers after opting out of his contract last week. The deal does include a no-trade clause, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
LeBron's imminent return to the Lakers was never in doubt. While there had been some speculation that he could push his way to Phoenix or wherever Bronny was ultimately drafted, LeBron's ties to the Lakers were far too strong to leave after his son joined the fold.
With an average annual salary of $51 million, James will continue to rank among the highest-paid players in the NBA alongside the Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid, Denver Nuggets Nikola Jokic, and Phoenix Suns' Kevin Durant. Currently the Golden State Warriors Stephen curry has the NBA's largest salary cap hit at $55 million.
When James' new deal expires after the 2025-26 campaign, he would have made $583 million in NBA salary over 23 seasons.
LeBron James' deal does include a no-trade clause, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski
Bronny James chose to wear the No. 9 jersey for the Purple & Gold, as announced on Tuesday
Lakers spokespeople did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com's request for confirmation.
It's obviously been a very busy time for the James gang.
Days after Bronny was drafted, giving them the chance to be the NBA's first father-son duo to play together, LeBron got a bit emotional about his son on social media.
'With the 55th in the 2024 NBA draft. The Los Angeles Lakers select……. Bronny James,' the Lakers star wrote with six crying-smiling emojis. 'Just had a moment!'
Of course, Bronny has faced accusations of nepotism since being drafted, but as he said at his introductory press conference on Tuesday, he's unconcerned and simply happy to be in the NBA.
'I've already seen it on social media and on the internet and stuff, talking about how I might not deserve an opportunity,' he said. 'But I've been dealing with this stuff for my whole life. It's nothing different. [The pressure] is more amplified for sure, but I can get through it.'
After failing to sign Dan Hurley from UConn, the Lakers gave JJ Redick the head coaching job
While James' critics have prodded him to retire, his statistics have remained at an All-Star level entering his 22nd NBA season.
A third-team All-NBA selection in 2023-24, James averaged 25.7 points ad 7.3 rebounds a game, while making a career-best 41 percent of his 3-point attempts.
Remarkably, LeBron and Bronny already rank as the highest-scoring father-son duo in NBA history despite the fact that the latter has yet to score a single point.
Thanks to LeBron's NBA-record 40,474 points, the pair lead Kobe and Joe 'Jellybean' Bryant (38,895 points), Steph and Dell Curry (36,338), Klay and Mychal Thompson (28,341) as well as Rick and Brent Barry (26,883).
But it's unclear when - if ever - Bronny will be able to contribute on an NBA level.
His college career at USC was delayed by his 2023 cardiac arrest. And while doctors cleared him to return, Bronny remained on the periphery of the Trojans' rotation in his only season of college ball.
He averaged only 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists as his team finished with a 15-18 record, placing ninth in the Pac-12.
Nevertheless, Bronny entered the draft, where he ultimately went 55th overall to LA.
Bronny averaged only 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 25 games for the Trojans
Bronny and LeBron will be the first father and son duo to play together in the NBA
The Lakers are banking on Bronny's reputation as a hard working.
'I think you've worked incredibly hard man,' Lakers GM Rob Pelinka told him in a behind the scenes clip before the selection. 'You've put in a ton of work.
'When we had lunch up at the facility for your workout, we talked about your work ethic and that means a lot to us.'
'I think you're a player of high character and a person of high character, and that is valued at the Lakers,' he continued. 'It's important for coach Redick and I to let you know those qualities really stand out.'
'And so, the Lakers are going to draft you with the 55th pick.'
The Lakers fell to the Denver Nuggets, 4-1, in the opening round of the NBA playoffs this past season.
The rookie will make his debut for the organization during the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas on July 6.