Jeanie Buss On LeBron James Being Lakers’ Highest-Paid Player: ‘He’s Still A Bargain To Me’

LeBron James (39) is the oldest player in the NBA. He turns 40 in December. 

However, The King is the highest-paid player on the Los Angeles Lakers. He’ll make $48.7 million next season and has a no-trade clause in his contract. 

Lakers owner Jeanie Buss recently said she has no problem with LeBron making that much money since she believes the NBA icon could make more. 

Jeanie Buss suggests she would pay Lebron more if not for the salary cap when asked about the risk/mileage of Lebron playing in the Olympics as the Lakers biggest asset:

“Yes he’s our highest paid player, but he’s still a bargain to me.” Via @PetrosAndMoney of @AM570LASports pic.twitter.com/W73nPhnyJi

— 🏆LakersGuru🏆 (@GuruLakers) August 22, 2024

LeBron averaged 25.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 8.3 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.5 blocks for the Lakers in 2023-24 in 71 games while shooting 54.0% from the field, 41.0% from 3 and 75.0% from the free-throw line. He’s still an elite force despite being close to 40. 

The leading scorer in NBA history, LeBron is the only player to rank top five all-time in points and assists, the only player to win three Finals MVPs with three different teams, the only player with 30,000 points, 10,000 rebounds and 10,000 career assists and the only player to score 40,000 points. 

LeBron is a four-time MVP, a four-time Finals MVP and a four-time champion. He has career averages of 27.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, 7.4 assists, 1.5 steals and 0.7 blocks with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat and Lakers.

LeBron hasn’t won a championship since 2020. According to NBA insider Sam Amick of The Athletic, LBJ “desperately wants to win at the highest of levels again.”

“As Lakers owner Jeanie Buss has always said about this partnership, James’ happiness is the key to it all,” Amick wrote. “Yet while some have surmised that James might be content coasting in these final Lakers years, enjoying all the benefits of living in Los Angeles while continuing to make his incredible mark on the league’s history books, league sources say he desperately wants to win at the highest of levels again. What’s more, James’ unprecedented play at this stage means he remains open to the prospect of playing two, or even three, more seasons before retiring.”