Four-time NBA MVP, Lebron James has signed a two-year, $97.1 million contract extension with Los Angeles Lakers, thus extending his stay with the team till 2024-25 season.

The deal also includes a player option for the last year that is 2024-25. Lebron James was in the final year of his previous contract that he signed in 2021 which was 2 years and $85 million. James is due to earn $44.5 million in the 2022-23 season. The Lakers could only offer him a maximum of two years as this was in relation to the NBA’s over 38 rule, thereby preventing the player to a 4-year deal.

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2009, 2010, 2012 and 2013 league MVP is coming off a spectacular year where he averaged 30.3 points, 8.2 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game. He could have won the scoring title but opted to miss the season’s final games, leading to Joel Embiid winning that accolade. 

The contract reportedly includes a 15% trade kicker, which means that if he is traded, the Lakers will pay him a bonus equal to 15% of the remaining dollar amount on his contract. He cannot have a no-trade clause in the contract because he signed an extension, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

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The deal is to supposed kick in 2023 and will make him the third highest paid player in that year, according to Sportrac. He will trail only Steph Curry ($50.9 million) and Bradley Beal ($46.7 million) in terms of earning the base salary.

He is the second player, behind Phoenix Suns point guard Chris Paul to sign a max contract extension after the age of 36. Paul signed his 4-year $120 million contract extension prior to the in 2021-22 season.