From Kobe Bryant to LeBron James: How Los Angeles Lakers place their faith in experience for long-term success

From Kobe Bryant to LeBron James: How Los Angeles Lakers place their faith in experience for long-term success
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LeBron James inking a two-year contract worth $85 million with LA Lakers might be a mere formality. He turns 36 later this month and will be 38 when the contract ends. Now this extension will see the aging superstar go through the 2022-23 season making him a player whose career has spanned two decades in the NBA. Eleven of his years were spent with the Cleveland Cavaliers over two stints, four of them with the Miami Heat and now, safe to say, he will bow out wearing the purple and gold.

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The moolah raked in is astronomical. He is all set to earn $39.2 million this season followed by $41,180,544 in 2021-22 and $44,474,988 in 2022-23, according to ESPN's Dave McMenamin who reckons his career earnings will hit a whopping $435 million by the time the contract expires. Again, none of this should come as a surprise, and while the world can sit back and marvel at LeBron's career, the Lakers deserve credit for acquiring LeBron in the first place. Most importantly, giving him a couple of seasons more to add more silverware in the Lakers trophy cabinet.