LeBron James ‘OPTS OUT of $51.4m Lakers contract’

LeBron James plans to opt out of his $51.4million player option for next season with the LA Lakers, according to reports.

Earlier this week LeBron was officially joined in Los Angeles by his son Bronny, who was picked by the Lakers in the second round of the NBA Draft.

The 19-year-old guard was selected with the 55th overall pick on Thursday night, leaving him and his dad in line to make history next season as the first ever father-and-son NBA duo.

Just a few days after his eldest boy’s proud moment, reports claim LeBron has made a big decision regarding his own contract with the team. 

The Athletic’s Shams Charania reports that the 39-year-old basketball icon intends to opt out of his player option for the 2024-25 campaign.

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However, he is still very much expected to continue his stint in LA and play alongside Bronny next year.

While he is opting out of his $51.4m option, LeBron will reportedly pick up a new deal ahead of his fifth season with the Lakers.

The four-time NBA champion has further cemented his legacy as one of the greatest in history since moving to LA back in 2018.

After picking up four rings while setting the all-time NBA points record in spells with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat as well as the Lakers, Bronny’s arrival is likely to provide him with a new incentive and motivation next season.

Despite his plans to become a free agent, the Lakers can offer LeBron a three-year maximum deal worth $161 million. 

And with his son on board, that might be too much for him to turn down. 

‘We know, and have to respect of course, that LeBron has a decision on his opt-out,’ Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka said. 

‘But if it worked out that he was on our team next season, NBA history could be made. And NBA history should be made in a Lakers uniform.’

Bronny’s selection comes after weeks of speculation about when he would be picked in the NBA Draft – with a range being set from the first round to going undrafted altogether.

But now the former USC Trojans guard will be staying with a basketball team in Los Angeles. 

Bronny’s single season of college basketball turned out to be a major disappointment after he suffered cardiac arrest while practicing in July of 2023. He was cleared to return to the court, but averaged only 19.4 minutes over 25 games for the Trojans, while scoring just 4.8 points per outing.

There was much debate in the run-up to this year’s draft about whether or not LeBron’s son was ready to take on the NBA.

But the Lakers decided they’d seen enough and selected the teenager anyway despite his limited experience and stats from college.