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LeBronJames
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Ashley Landis/AP
Basketball superstar LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers have agreed to an early contract extension, according to an ESPN report.
As the US television station reported on Wednesday, 37-year-old James could play in California until the end of the 2024/2025 season.
However, James has the option to exit the contract early in 2024.
Actually, James' contract would have expired after the coming season.
The two more years of contract in the North American professional league NBA bring James 97.1 million US dollars (95.5 million euros).
The four-time NBA champion will become the highest-earning player in the history of the world's top basketball league with a salary of $532 million if he plays three more seasons.
Forbes estimated his net worth at $1 billion in June, becoming the first active NBA player to reach that number.
The 2.06 meter tall James has been playing with the Lakers since 2018.
In 2020 he had won the championship with the team, but recently experienced disappointing months.
Los Angeles, 17-time champion, missed the playoffs last season.
Injuries had often slowed James down, he only made 56 appearances.
James has won four NBA championships, been named the league's Most Valuable Player four times, and was named to 18 All-Star teams.
He has also won two Olympic gold medals.
Last season, he averaged 30.3 points, 8.2 rebounds and 6.2 assists in 56 games.
ara/dpa/rtr