LeBron James’ contract extension isn’t about Anthony Davis or 2021 free agents or even the Lakers. In season 18 and almost 36 years old, it’s about facing his basketball mortality: https://t.co/lIiq6WDDiw
— Brian Windhorst (@WindhorstESPN) December 2, 2020
James was watching four years ago when friend Dwyane Wade had an acrimonious departure from the Miami Heat in a contract dispute. At 35 with knee issues, Wade got an offer from the Heat that was significantly less than he wanted, and it led to his departure to the Chicago Bulls.
Wade later reunited with the Heat and had a pleasant end to his career, but it was a lesson James remembered.
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This has never been an issue for Lakers greats over the years. They took care of Kobe Bryant with a two-year extension when he was coming back from a torn Achilles. They took care of Magic Johnson at the end of his career.
At this minute, that doesn’t seem like it would be something James would need to worry about. He just finished second in the regular-season MVP voting. Common sense would say James could continue to be paid top dollar for the foreseeable future.
But his first season in L.A. was derailed by a groin injury, and coming into last season there were plenty of speculation that maybe the three-time Finals MVP had lost a step. If James had wanted a greater commitment after that first tumultuous season in L.A., would the Lakers have reciprocated?
It’s moot now, there’s a banner going up soon and he’s extended — but it’s a window into how James is truly thinking at this stage.
This is ultimately a conservative move by James and Paul, who are known for being aggressive with contracts. It does line up with their goal for the last six years, which was to get James paid. It wasn’t until the 2014-15 season, James’ 12th in the league, that he was the highest-paid player on his team.
And it wasn’t until the current collective bargaining agreement, which James helped negotiate as union vice president, that he could even sign a contract like this. The old rule limited multiyear contracts to when players turned 36, which James will on Dec. 30.
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