LeBron James

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LeBron James won't ask for trade or be traded by Lakers, agent says​

LeBron James will remain with the Los Angeles Lakers, agent Rich Paul made clear to ESPN on Friday. "LeBron won't be traded, and we aren't asking to be," Paul said in reaction to some growing speculation about James' future ahead of next week's trade deadline. James might have contributed to the swirl by putting an hourglass on his X account this week after a loss in Atlanta. He hasn't spoken to reporters since to clarify the message, and he missed the Lakers' victory Thursday in Boston with an ankle injury.

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LeBron James mum on player option for 2024-25, hourglass tweet​

Speaking to reporters for the first time since his agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, told ESPN's Brian Windhorst that he would not seek a trade away from the Los Angeles Lakers, LeBron James said he is undecided about the contract decision he will have to make with the franchise this summer. James has a player option on his contract with L.A. for $51.4 million for 2024-25, which would be his 22nd season in the NBA. James sat out the Lakers' 114-105 win over the Boston Celtics on Thursday with a sore left ankle but sounded committed to playing against the Knicks after a four-day layoff. The Lakers are 2-2 on their current six-game road trip, 25-25 overall and No. 9 in the Western Conference. James emphasized the need for the team to develop consistency over the final 2½ months of the regular season.

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Sources: Dubs made bid for LeBron James at trade deadline​

Over a clandestine 24-hour window prior to the trade deadline Thursday that included owner-to-owner conversations, the Golden State Warriors made an unsuccessful bid to convince the Los Angeles Lakers and LeBron James to consider a trade to pair him with longtime rival Stephen Curry, sources told ESPN. The Warriors were eager to present a package deal to L.A., but neither the Lakers nor James were willing to explore a potential blockbuster. Even at 39 years old, James is still playing at an All-NBA level that stirred the Warriors' imagination about his ability to extend the window of the franchise's fading dynasty. Armed with the encouragement of Warriors star Draymond Green , Golden State owner Joe Lacob reached out to Lakers owner Jeanie Buss to inquire whether James' apparent public frustration could be interpreted as an opening to discuss a trade, sources said.

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lebron james says he hopes to end career as member of lakers
James' immediate challenge in L.A. is assuring that, at 30-26 and currently No. 9 in the Western Conference, the Lakers secure a playoff berth. Beyond that, he reiterated his intention to play for Team USA at the Paris Olympics this summer.

 

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lakers' lebron james reaches 40,000 career points
LeBron James continues to extend his NBA career to uncharted territory, reaching 40,000 career points Saturday night at Crypto.com Arena. James finished with 26 points, putting his career total at 40,017 career points. James came into the Los Angeles Lakers' game against the Denver Nuggets needing nine points to reach the mark. He got there with a driving layup at the 10:39 mark of the second quarter.

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NBA History - Points Leader
Top-5
No.1: LeBron James - 40,017
No.2: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - 38.387
No.3: Karl Molone - 36,928
No.4: Kobe Bryant - 33,643
No.5: Michael Jordan - 32,292

 

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BUCKETS BY BRON​

Career Points Total | 00,002 | 0ct 29, 2003 @ Sacramento

Everything was ready. The players were on the court, the referees had the ball, and the fans were in their seats. But the start of James' first game was halted because the earlier nationally televised game on ESPN had run long. In those moments of limbo, James sat on the scorer's table and chewed his nails, every eye in Arco Arena on him. The Cavs were in Sacramento for two days before the game, and James had been antsy. That afternoon he had lunch with Moses Malone, who told him stories about his rookie season to help pass the time. "A year ago I was watching this at the start of the season. Now I'm finally here. It's a dream," James said that night. "This will never get old. When it does, that's when I'll stop playing." The nerves never showed. James was under control from the start, moving smoothly. He grabbed a rebound 90 seconds in and ran the offense to set up Ricky Davis for a layup. Then three minutes in, he came off a screen set by Carlos Boozer and had a sliver of an opening along the baseline. Boozer was open rolling away from the screen, but James wanted the shot. He leaned back to create room and took it from a tough angle. The ball ripped through the net. The Cavs' bench roared as James ran past. The rookie would make his first three shots and finish the quarter, his first, with 12 points, two rebounds, two assists and three steals

Career Points Total | 40,002 | March 3, 2024 vs. Denver

With a layup less than two minutes into the second quarter, James became the first player in NBA history to eclipse 40,000 regular-season points. When you add in his 8,023 points in the playoffs (also the most ever), he's approaching a combined 50,000 points for his record-setting NBA career.

 

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$500M is the next milestone for LeBron​

James has made more than $482 million in salary in his career and will become the first player in NBA history to pass the $500 million mark next season, by either opting in to his $51.4 million salary, signing a new contract with the Lakers or, in a less likely scenario, signing with another team. James said Feb.3 that he has not yet made a decision on his player option. He has until June 29 to decide to opt in or become a free agent. Because of the over-38 rule, no team, including the Lakers, can offer James a contract for more than three seasons if he elects to become a free agent. That restriction should not matter; of the past six contracts James has signed, five have been for three years or less.

Those short-term deals have limited the total value of James' recent contracts, meaning a new three-year maximum deal -- either for $162 million with the Lakers or for $157 million with another team -- would represent the largest total contract in James' career, eclipsing the $154 million, four-year deal he signed with the Lakers in 2018. James could follow the path from prior years and sign an even shorter deal with the Lakers. A two-year, $104 million contract with a player option on the second season would allow James to hit free agency again next summer -- perhaps when his son, USC freshmen Bronny James

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Lakers NBA title ring Kobe Bryant gifted to father sells for $927K​

A ring from the Los Angeles Lakers' 2000 NBA title -- gifted from Kobe Bryant to his father, Joe "Jellybean" Bryant -- sold for $927,000, including buyer's premium with collectibles marketplace Goldin, over the weekend. The hotly contested 43-bid auction resulted in the most ever paid for an NBA championship ring. The 2000 championship, Kobe's first of five titles, was the only time he gifted his father with a ring. Goldin noted that it is an identical copy of the one given to Kobe: BRYANT etched on one side, with the same sizing (11½), weight (59.6 grams) and etchings. The ring was originally consigned to Goldin in 2013 by Pam and Joe Bryant and sold for $173,000. For this weekend's sale, the 2013 buyer consigned the ring, which comes with a letter of authenticity from the Bryants. It isn't, however, an overall record paid for a sports championship ring; that still belongs to the $2.09 million netted by Charlie Sheen for Babe Ruth's 1927 World Series title ring.

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LeBron James back in Cleveland for Celtics-Cavaliers Game 4​

LeBron James sat courtside like a fan in an arena he made famous. His postseason over for weeks, James was back home in Ohio and watched Monday night's playoff game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics, an appearance certain to drive conversation about the superstar's future. James, who can opt out of his contact with the Los Angeles Lakers and become a free agent this summer, arrived in Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse just as Game 4 began. He took a seat across from Boston's bench next to his wife, Savannah, and agent Rich Paul. During a timeout in the first quarter, James received a thunderous ovation when shown on the giant scoreboard during a timeout. He acknowledged the roaring crowd and then King James mimicked placing a crown on his head.

James played two stints in Cleveland and led the Cavs to their only NBA championship in 2016 before leaving two years later. There has been speculation about another reunion, but the 39-year-old has been adamant that he's leaving all his options open. The league's career scoring leader, James has maintained a home near his hometown of Akron. He's come back to Cleveland many times since leaving in 2018, but has not attended any Cavs games. James is a 20-time All-Star, four-time league MVP and champion. He was drafted No. 1 overall by Cleveland and spent seven seasons with the Cavs before signing as a free agent with Miami in 2010. He returned to the Cavs in 2014 and led them to four consecutive NBA Finals appearances -- all against Golden State.

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LeBron James shows up to watch Bronny at NBA draft combine​

Bronny James' famous father was on hand Wednesday to watch him play at the NBA draft combine. LeBron James showed up wearing a black hoodie and sat in the second row for Bronny's second and final scrimmage of the combine. The NBA's career scoring leader, his wife and daughter were frequent spectators for Bronny's games at Southern California last season. LeBron has said repeatedly he would like to team with his son. The four-time MVP and four-time NBA champion just completed his 21st season and could become a free agent if he opts out of his contract with the Los Angeles Lakers. But he also said following a season-ending loss to Denver that he hasn't "given much thought lately" to playing alongside his son.

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Sources: LeBron James staying with Lakers on $104M deal​

LeBron James has agreed to return to the Loa Angeles Lakers on a two-year, $104 million contract that includes a player option for 2025-26 and a no-trade clause, sources told ESPN on Wednesday. The deal brings James back for his 22nd NBA season and essentially becomes a one-plus-one deal that allows him to reassess his Lakers and NBA future next summer. James joins Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal as one of only two players in the NBA with no-trade clauses.

LeBron James, who will turn 40 on Dec. 30, is considered one of the greatest players in NBA history. The only player to eclipse 40,000 career points, he is fourth all time in assists, eighth in steals, eighth in 3-pointers made and third in free throws made. Last season, James became the first player to make 20 All-Star teams, passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar -- whom he had already passed for the all-time scoring mark -- for the most in NBA history. James' 20 All-NBA selections and 13 first-team All-NBA selections are also the most in the history of the sport.

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LeBron James to bear Team USA flag at Paris Olympics ceremony​

Lebron James has been voted by his fellow Olympians to be the Team USA flag-bearer at the opening ceremony on the River Seine on Friday in Paris. James is the first men's basketball player to carry the flag for Team USA. Women's basketball players Sue Bird (2020) and Dawn Staley (2004) previously served in the honorary role. Paris is James' fourth Olympics. He won golds in 2008 in Beijing and 2012 in London and a bronze in 2004 in Athens.

Team USA's woman flag-bearer will be announced Tuesday.

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LeBron James leads Team USA past Germany in London​

Here is something for everyone in the basketball world to understand as the Olympics, perhaps the most competitive international tournament in history, are about to get started: LeBron James is not messing around. He may be 39 and named the country's flag-bearer, but this is no ceremonial moment. With Germany, the current FIBA World Cup champion, trying to send a message by knocking off the Americans just days before the start of the Olympics, James grabbed control of the game in the same manner he has done since he was a teenager.

James scored eight vital points and wrapped them around steals, rebounds and general brute force to lead Team USA to a 92-88 victory. He finished with 20 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists, but the statistics are hardly representative of his impact. Team USA finishes the pre-Olympic tour with an imperfect 5-0. The squad has some issues to work on after two less than impressive showings in London. Embiid was a bright spot, however, as he continues to round into form. He had 15 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists.Curry had 13 points for Team USA but was just 1-of-7 on 3-pointers as the U.S. struggled from deep, shooting just 29%.

Germany has four current NBA players on its roster and is known for excellent team chemistry, which was on display in its run to the World Cup title last summer. Nearly everyone who steps on the floor for the team can shoot the 3. The Germans move the ball well, are very active with their hands on defense and have terrific size. Most importantly in this game, they took care of the ball and were ultra-aggressive on the offensive glass.

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Topps unveils rare LeBron, Curry, Durant-signed Paris Olympics card​

As rare as it was for LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant to team up for a handful of games this summer, now there is a collectable commemorating their time together at the Paris Olympics that's even rarer. James, Curry and Durant will all autograph a 1-of-1 Topps trading card featuring the gold-medal-winning trio in their red, white and blue Team USA uniforms that will be sent to a customer at random who purchases the stars' base card from the company.

The base card was made available at 6:20 p.m. ET on Saturday -- shortly after the U.S. men's basketball team's gold medal ceremony following its 98-87 win over France -- and the purchasing window will close Tuesday at 6:20 p.m. ET, at which point Topps will pair a redemption card for the triple-auto at random for a lucky customer. The redemption card will be sent to the winner within 10 days of the close of the sale, according to a Topps spokesperson. The base card featuring James, Curry and Durant retails for $11.99.

Topps Now was initiated by the company in 2016. The program also released several other cards during Team USA's run through the Paris Games, including one depicting Curry's 36-point outburst in the semifinals against Serbia; one honoring Durant becoming the all-time leading scorer in U.S. Olympic basketball history; and one of James and tennis star Coco Gauff serving as America's flag-bearers during the opening ceremony.

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