LeBron James' first foray into free agency in six years didn't produce much drama, as the NBA legend returned to the Lakers on Wednesday without much fanfare.
It wasn't the first time James quietly hit free agency. He opted-out three different times during his second stint with the Cavaliers, lingering on the free agent market for six weeks after he led the franchise to a championship in 2016. While some offseasons have been dominated by James' next move, this wasn't one of them.
James' time as a free agent gave way to something all too familiar: a short-term contract. He signed a two-year, $104 million deal with the Lakers that is effectively a one-year pact with a player option for the 2025-26 season. It's far from the 39-year-old first short-term deal that allows him as much flexibility as possible.
Here's a look back at James' history of NBA contracts between the Cavaliers, Heat and Lakers.
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LeBron James contract history
James has signed 10 contracts since entering the NBA in 2003.
2003 — 4-year, $18.8 million rookie contract
James inked a four-year, $18.8 million rookie contract with the Cavaliers after they selected him first overall in the 2003 NBA Draft.
James was a phenom at the time, but this was close to the going rate for top picks who didn't have as much contract leverage as typical free agents. In hindsight, it almost looks like an error to see that James made less than $5 million per year.
2006 — 4-year, $60.4 million contract with Cavaliers
The Cavaliers got ahead of the game by extending James a year before the end of his rookie contract, giving their star a four-year, $60.4 million contract that roughly tripled his annual salary from his rookie deal.
2010 — 6-year, $110 million contract with Heat
New NBA contracts longer than five years aren't allowed under the collective bargaining agreement that was introduced after the 2011 lockout, but James got his deal with the Heat in before that shift.
The contract, of course, was the least of the drama during the 2010 offseason. James was always going to get as much money as was allowed, but which team would it would come from was the dominant story in sports. James' free agent saga gave way to "The Decision," an infamous ESPN special in which he announced he was leaving the Cavaliers to sign with the Heat.
2014 — 2-year, $42.2 million contract with Cavaliers
Again, the contract terms weren't the story when James opted-out in 2014 and re-entered free agency. The entire league waited well over a week to hear James' decision as it became increasingly possible that a return to Cleveland was on the table.
James ultimately announced through Sports Illustrated that he was coming home and rejoining the Cavaliers in a decision that shifted the landscape of the NBA and broke up Miami's "Big 3."
2015 — 2-year, $47 million contract with Cavaliers
James' 2014 contract gave him the ability to opt out after the 2014-15 season, but there was no expectation that he would make another dramatic free agent move. The superstar would re-sign with the Cavaliers on a two-year, $47 million contract a few days into free agency.
2016 — 3-year, $100 million contract with Cavaliers
James opted-out of his two-year deal after leading the Cavaliers to an NBA championship in 2016, but there was again no expectation that he would leave Cleveland. It took all of six weeks for James to re-sign on a three-year, $100 million contract, proving neither side was in any rush and easily shattering his annual salary record at $33 million per year.
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2018 — 4-year, $153.5 million contract with Lakers
James' salary surpassed $38 million annually when he left the Cavaliers to sign with the Lakers in 2018. There was no doubt James would receive a max contract in Los Angeles, but his decision to join a third franchise and leave the Eastern Conference for the first time altered the landscape of the NBA.
2020 — 2-year, $86 million contract with Lakers
The Lakers prevented any free agent drama by signing James to a two-year, $86 million contract extension early in the shortened 2020-21 season.
2022 — 2-year, $99 million contract with Lakers
James reaffirmed his commitment to the Lakers with a two-year max contract extension just under $100 million ahead of the 2022-23 season.
2024 — 2-year, $104 million contract with Lakers
James' first venture into free agency since 2018 didn't produce any dramatic moves other than the new richest contract of his career in terms of annual salary. James is set to make $52 million in each of the next two seasons, though the deal includes the ability to opt out in 2025.
James' career is likely year-to-year at this point, despite his sustained excellence. If he wants to return for a 23rd season, however, it wouldn't be a surprise to see James opt-out next summer and ink one more deal.
LeBron James career earnings
James has made $479.5 million in career earnings through 21 seasons, and his new deal ensures he will easily pass the $500 million mark in year No. 22.
James had a long stretch of his career without being the highest-paid player on his own team, but thanks to his longevity and sustained greatness, his career earnings now far exceed all other players in NBA history. Kevin Durant is second in career earnings with $396.7 million, though he will easily clear $400 million this coming season just as James clears $500 million.
James is projected to have made $583.5 million million in career earnings by the end of his new contract, though retirement — or an opt out of his contract following the 2024-25 season — could affect that total.
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