LeBron James has terminated his contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, his agent, Rich Paul, told ESPN.
The decision, while expected, comes two days after the team selected his son, Bronny, with the 55th pick in the NBA Draft.
However, the NBA's all-time leading scorer is widely expected to remain with the Lakers, and could very well take a pay cut from the nearly $52 million he was set to earn this season.
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Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James dunks during the second half of Game 4 of an NBA playoff first-round series against the Denver Nuggets on April 27, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
“He is prioritizing the improvement of the squad. He has insisted on making every effort to improve the squad,” Paul told the network.
James joined the Lakers in 2018 after returning to the Cavaliers, where he eventually brought a championship to the city of Cleveland. He won his fourth NBA title with the Lakers in 2020.
He just finished his 21st season and played in his record 20th All-Star Game.
At 39 years old, he averaged 25.7 points, 8.3 assists and 7.3 rebounds per game, figures comparable to his career statistics of 27.1, 7.4 and 7.5. He also set a career high by shooting 41.7% from three-point range, while becoming the first player to score more than 40,000 points in a career.
Among players who have played more than 100 games by age 35, James' 27.2 points per game are the most ever by a decent margin. Second is Michael Jordanwho averaged 22.5 in 171 games after turning 35. James has played in 262 since his 35th birthday.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James gestures during the first half of a game against the Denver Nuggets on March 2, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
BRYCE JAMES POURS COLD WATER ON THE PROSPECT OF PLAYING IN THE NBA WITH HIS FATHER, LEBRON JAMES: 'HE WILL BE 42 YEARS OLD'
The Lakers' selection of Bronny made LeBron and Bronny the first father-son duo to be active NBA players at the same time.
Before his college career began, Bronny suffered cardiac arrest in July 2023 while working out at USC. It was later revealed that he had a congenital heart defect. He was cleared to return, and The Associated Press recently reported that he was medically cleared to play in the NBA.
LeBron once said his final year in the NBA would be with his son, so some have assumed in recent years that James would retire after playing with his son for a year. But last week, Paul said the two were not a package deal.
Paul said LeBron was “away from” the “idea” of playing alongside his son and was more focused on Bronny's development in the league.
However, it seemed strange that Bronny had invitations to train with at least 10 teams, but Only two are accepted of the Lakers and Phoenix Suns. However, Paul says that was all “intentionally.”
Scouts weren't too kind to Bronny, with one saying he “wasn't an NBA prospect.” In his only season with the USC Trojans, he averaged less than five points per game.
Bronny James, left, of the USC Trojans greets LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers before a game against the Stanford Cardinal at the Galen Center on Jan. 6, 2024, in Los Angeles. (Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)
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Once the 2024-25 campaign begins, LeBron will make history in two ways. Not only will he share the court with his son, but he will also tie Vince Carter for the most seasons played in the NBA with 22.
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