LeBron James, the four-time NBA champion and the league’s all-time leading scorer, appears to be officially opting into his contract with the Los Angeles Lakers. This agreement—which is guaranteed for $52.6 million—locks him in for the coming season. Even as he prepares for his unprecedented 23rd season, James is singularly focused on the task of chasing another title. He’s equally curious and definitely more concerned about what the Lakers do on their roster this summer.
James has been a freight train throughout his NBA career. He features an impressive trophy case—four Finals MVP trophies and four league MVPs just to name a few. In addition to his 21 All-Star appearances, he’s been selected to 21 All-NBA teams. His latest NBA achievement came when he became the first player ever to land an All-NBA team at 40 years old. This monumental accomplishment cements his legacy even further.
The upcoming season will be a career defining moment for James. In addition, he’s about to break Robert Parish’s record for most career regular-season games played. As of today, he’s only 50 games away from accomplishing that feat. He put his best foot forward last season. Against the Minnesota Timberwolves, he averaged 25.4 points, 9.0 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.8 blocks per game on nearly 53 percent shooting.
As he closes in on whatever the end of his career may be, James often said he wanted to make the most of each remaining season. He stated, “Every season that I did not make it to the Finals or did not win the championship has been a disappointment.” This sentiment would perfectly capture his unquenchable motivation to win at the highest level.
In addition to his on-court goals, James has a no-trade clause in his contract, which allows him greater control over his future with the Lakers. He has previously remarked on his commitment to the franchise, saying, “I am a Laker, and I’m happy and been very happy being a Laker the last six years and hopefully it stays that way.”
Rich Paul, James’ agent, reiterated his client’s ambitions, confirming that “LeBron wants to compete for a championship.” This determination is evident as James keeps a close watch on the Lakers’ offseason strategies to ensure that the team builds a title-contending roster.
Under this competitive spirit, though, James is in tune with the more intimate side of his life. He added that his wife Savannah wants him to retire before long. With a bit of jest, he concluded, “[Savannah] doesn’t want me to f…
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