NBA journalist claims Lakers star LeBron James should take veteran minimum
Context:
The Los Angeles Lakers' early playoff exit has shifted their focus to the offseason, with plans to retain LeBron James while building around Luka Doncic. Rachel Nichols suggested on 'The Herd with Colin Cowherd' that James should re-sign for the veteran minimum, arguing that his financial security as a billionaire allows him to prioritize winning additional championships. Nichols highlighted that accepting a lower salary could enable the Lakers to acquire another superstar, potentially leading to more titles for James. The prospect of winning more championships is enticing for James, especially as he remains keen on playing alongside his son Bryce in the future. Despite turning 40, James has maintained a high level of performance, with impressive stats in his 22nd NBA season, underscoring his ongoing value to the team.
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The Lakers were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Minnesota Timberwolves, which was unexpected given their acquisition of Luka Doncic to play alongside LeBron James. This has led to a focus on the offseason and plans to retain James, who holds a player option, while continuing to build around Doncic.
Rachel Nichols, appearing on 'The Herd with Colin Cowherd', proposed that LeBron James should consider re-signing with the Lakers for the veteran minimum to facilitate the acquisition of another major superstar, enhancing his chances of winning more championships.
Nichols argued that despite being a billionaire, James has historically felt underpaid given his contributions to the NBA, but his financial status allows him to focus on legacy and championship opportunities rather than salary.
Winning additional titles is significant for James as it would enable him to match or surpass legends like Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan in terms of championship rings, with one more ring tying him with Bryant and two more tying him with Jordan.
James has expressed interest in remaining in the league long enough to play with his son Bryce, who is still a year away from college, suggesting a long-term plan that aligns with his pursuit of additional championships.
In his 22nd NBA season, LeBron James has continued to perform at an elite level despite being 40 years old, showcasing his enduring skills with an average of 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game, alongside strong shooting percentages.
The idea of James taking a pay cut has been considered before, but it remains uncertain if he would agree to the veteran minimum, which would be a significant reduction from his usual maximum salary demands.
The Los Angeles Lakers were quickly bounced from the postseason, losing their first-round matchup with the Minnesota Timberwolves in five games. While many expected them to make a deep postseason run after they acquired Luka Doncic to pair with LeBron James, their attention has now shifted to the offseason.
Los Angeles has made it clear that they plan to retain James, who holds a player option this summer, while building around Doncic -- their 26-year-old superstar who is eligible to sign a contract extension. Rachel Nichols recently appeared on "The Herd with Colin Cowherd", where she made the case that the former should re-sign with the Lakers for the veteran minimum.
"I think he should take the minimum," Fox Sports 1's Rachel Nichols stated Wednesday. "LeBron has felt for a long time that he is, at large, big picture, underpaid and that is why, ever since his first contract in Miami, after that, he has wanted the maximum amount of money. And he is absolutely right. There is no amount of money that the NBA at large, or any team he plays for, could pay him to compensate for what he has brought to the NBA. So, he is always going to be quote underpaid, but to your point, he is a billionaire. So, how much money he makes in the next year or two is not even going to put a dent in his grandchildren's grandchildren's grandchildren's pockets. And if I was LeBron, the thing you cannot buy with whatever amount of money you get in that contract is championship rings. And if you took just the league minimum and that allows a third really sort of huge superstar to come in, not only could he win another ring, but if he sticks around -- and there is certainly a lot of talk about the fact that he wants to now wait to play with his son Bryce, who still has a year at Arizona coming up and there's a couple years until Bryce comes in the league -- he could get maybe two rings."
Nichols pointed out that one more ring would allow him to catch Kobe Bryant with five titles, while two more rings would give him six title -- catching Michael Jordan. James was reportedly open to taking a pay cut last offseason, however, it is unclear if he was willing to accept the veteran minimum.
The four-time NBA MVP continued to play at a high level in his 22nd NBA season despite turning 40 years old last December. He averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, 8.2 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.6 blocks per game while shooting 51.3% from the field, 37.6% from three-point range and 78.2% from the free-throw line.
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