#LeBron James gets $85 million extension from Lakers

LeBron James will be a Laker until at least 2023.

Los Angeles and James agreed to a two-year, $85 million maximum contract extension, ESPN reported Wednesday. James helped bring the Lakers their first NBA title since 2009-10 last season with a win over the Heat in the Orlando bubble, receiving Finals MVP honors in the process.

James’ extension comes as fellow Lakers superstar Anthony Davis mulls his contract options. The free agent is widely expected to re-sign with Los Angeles, but the number of years has always been the question.

Now Davis at least knows how long James will be there.

James, who will make $39 million this season, became the fourth player in NBA history to win at least one championship with three different teams. And at 35 years and 287 days old, James is the second-oldest player in league history to be named Finals MVP.

In June 2018, James opted out of his contract with the Cavaliers and became an unrestricted free agent before signing with the Lakers the following month. But James suffered a groin injury, the first major injury of his career, around Christmas and missed a career-high 17 consecutive games. The Lakers fell out of playoff contention without him.

With head coach Frank Vogel and Davis joining James in the 2019 offseason, the Lakers jumped out to a 17-2 record and dominated throughout the season.