Buss wishes she could pay more for LeBron James.
LeBron James will turn 40 years old in the upcoming NBA season. But even during the twilight years of his career, the King remains one of the best players in the association. King James proved his talents during Team USA’s run at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Bron took home the Olympics MVP award home as he led Team USA to their fifth straight gold medal in the competition. So it is no surprise that the Los Angeles Lakers still view him as a cornerstone star of the team.
James signed a two-year, $101.3 million extension with the Purple and Gold last season. Although it makes him the highest-paid player on the Lakers, he is still not even among the top 10 highest-paid players in the NBA for the upcoming season.
LeBron’s contract is a bargain for Jeanie Buss
The Purple and Gold haven’t had much success ever since Jeanie Buss became the legendary organization’s owner. The franchise won the only ring in 2020, and James was a key reason behind it.
Considering that Buss believes that LBJ’s $48.7 million salary for the 2024-25 season is still a bargain for the organization. Jeanie shared her thoughts in an interview with Petros and Money on AM 570 LA Sports.
“I think he’s so competitive, it’s really gotta be something that he wants to do,” Buss said. “We always support our players in the decisions that they make in regards to playing for their national team or not. It was something that was important to LeBron and yes, he is our highest-paid player, but he’s still a bargain to me. He’s absolutely amazing.”
Last season, James averaged 25.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 8.3 assists per game for the Lakers. Moreover, even as a 39-year-old, LBJ played 71 games for the team. Keeping that in mind, he deserves to be the highest-paid player on the Lakers. After all, he is still performing at an elite level.
Buss would pay Bron even more?
A player of James’ caliber brings in a lot of revenue for the organization. The Lakers have a history of having huge names on the roster. The likes of Magic Johnson and Kobe Bryant sold millions of jerseys, and James is doing the same.
The Lakers owner explained in the same interview why Buss can’t pay more than $48.7 million to the 20-time NBA All-Star.
“Because we’re a salary cap league, there’s only so much that we can pay him. He brings us the notoriety in the league but also internationally. He’s a huge star and he’s a great leader for this team,” Buss said. “It’s the same as Magic Johnson and Kobe Bryant because we’re in a capped league, and they probably should have been paid twice what they get. But we can only pay him the maximum.”
Well, regardless of how much James is making with the Lakers in salary, the 39-year-old has already become a billionaire. Now, James is looking for a way to win the potential fifth NBA Championship and add more to his already illustrious career.