LeBron James signs a 4-year, $154-million contract with the LA Lakers

After all of these years at this job, I really am trying to do better at “sports blogging.” My opinion is still that most of conversations about sports are just “the dudes’ version” of celebrity gossip, which is seen as “for women.” We care about Anne Hathaway and Rihanna the same way dudes care about LeBron and Tom Brady. Obviously, there are women who care about sports (and sports gossip), just like there are men who care about celebrities and celeb gossip. That’s why I’ve tried to get better about sports gossip: it’s just as exciting and drama-filled and beef-happy as celebrity gossip.

Arguably, the biggest sports/gossip story last week was LeBron James deciding to become a free agent. Everyone believed this was coming, especially after the Cavaliers lost so badly to the Warriors in this year’s NBA Finals. The feeling was the LeBron – arguably the greatest player in the NBA – didn’t have a team he could count on during the crunch time of the Finals. So then the speculation went into overdrive: where would Bron go? Well, we got our answer: he’s going to LA. He’ll likely finish out his career as a Laker.

Sorry Cavs fans, LeBron James is on the move once again. Bringing an end to months (and for some fans, years) of speculation, James announced through his agent on Sunday that he is ending his second stint as a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers to join the Los Angeles Lakers for the upcoming NBA season.

“LeBron James, four time NBA MVP, three time NBA finals MVP, fourteen time NBA All Star, and two time Olympic gold medalist has agreed to a four year, $154 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers,” reads a press release tweeted by Klutch Sports Group, James’ agency, on Sunday. It was widely thought that James, who turns 34 in December, would choose a team as a free agent. Doing so would not only give the athlete a chance at a ninth NBA finals appearance, but would likely lead him to another match-up against back-to-back NBA champions the Golden State Warriors.

But James’ decision wasn’t cut-and-dry from the start, as several teams — barring some trades or free agency signings — were in solid position to sign the star, including the Philadelphia 76ers, Boston Celtics, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers and the Cavaliers.

[From People]

A lot of analysts were saying that a move to the Lakers would probably be LeBron’s choice, just because he seems tailor-made for the LA life, and the move would give him one of the biggest media markets in the world, and it would help his brand as a celebrity-athlete. Plus, the Lakers have the money (sort of) to build a really good team around LeBron. Add to all that… Magic Johnson made it his mission to personally convince LeBron to join the Lakers. The LA Times reports that Magic went to LeBron’s house to make a man-to-man appeal to join. So… I’m sorry Cleveland. Bron got you a championship and that was amazing. But he’s Hollywood Bron now.

Embed from Getty Images

Embed from Getty Images

Photos courtesy of Getty, Instagram.

You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

97 Responses to “LeBron James signs a 4-year, $154-million contract with the LA Lakers”

Comments are Closed

We close comments on older posts to fight comment spam.

  1. Tania says:

    Now if you would just do some reporting on hockey! Like how after winning the Stanley Cup, Alex Ovechkin had the time of his life with it. That would have been a great article to read.

    Or that if you’re a fan of any hockey team, make it a reality to see a game in Las Vegas because it’s fun, especially if your team wins.

    On the LeBron thing, he liked being the “Jesus” dude in Cleveland so pretty much thwarted any chance for other stars to be there and help win. He thought he could win it all on his own and couldn’t. Let’s hope the Lakers do surround him with other players capable to win. It’s what the Warriors have. Not just one star but a great team around the star.

    Also, FIFA is happening right now and Ronaldo is out! I am a woman who likes sports. Except not the NFL because eff them!

    • Lala says:

      Actually, LeBron has NEVA come off as trying to be Jesus…or trying to win it all on his own…that’s not even his style of playing…or who he has ever presented himself to be…Kyrie left because HE KNEW that LeBron wasn’t going to stay once his contract was up this year…and neither he NOR LeBron can stand Dan Gilbert the owner of the Cavs…The Warriors have a great team because they tanked…FOR YEARS and were able to build that team up with high draft picks…Cleveland was NEVER able to go that route because when LeBron was on the team…even when the team had basically NOBODY on there…LeBron took them deep in the playoffs by himself! So…LeBron is going to L.A….where they have tanked for SEVERAL SEASONS…just like Golden State did back in the day…where he will be surrounded by glorious young talented HIGH DRAFT PICKS, with legs like Mustangs…while he waits to see if Kwahi will get traded to the Lakers this season…or if he will come to the Lakers next season when his contract ends…bottom line…it will be EPIC in the West for LeBron!!!!

    • Janet says:

      Why do people say FIFA is happening right now instead of World Cup. FIFA is a governing body, no?

      • Tania says:

        It’s the FIFA World Cup. Same reason people would call the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the NHL, or the World Series, the MLB, etc. And it’s called FIFA on my Xfinity box.

        Also, Lala, his twitter handle is, “King James”. That’s not an accident. It’s a play on the King James bible, which has religious connotations, etc.

        LeBron will not be the savior of the Lakers either. The west is a tougher bracket than the cake walk that he was in before then. He’ll need more talent than he was able to surround himself with in Cleveland. Make no mistake, I like him as a human. He says and does a lot of things right. But I don’t idolize any athlete anymore since my hero came out and supported a right wing nut job in Canada’s last national election.

      • Mo' Comments Mo' Problems says:

        People outside the U.S. refer to it as the World Cup, not FIFA. 🙂 They only refer to it as “FIFA” when talking about the video game.

        And, yes, Lebron could’ve used a better team but you can see when he plays he takes on a lot of the burden to win…like he doesn’t give the team dynamic much of a chance to play itself out.

      • Disco says:

        FIFA stands for Fédération Internationale de Football Association,
        So its essentially its the Football World cup, but as Football is the worlds most popular sport its ‘assumed’ the sport is football and hence the FIFA mention is not required, just World Cup or European Cup etc

    • delphi says:

      @Tania – “We found…FOUNTAIN!” God, I love Ovechkin so much. #RockTheRed Now if only Toronto could get the Cup. A girl can dream, no?

      • Tania says:

        @delphi, how Ovechkin celebrated after winning the Cup is exactly how it should be celebrated. It was a lot of fun watching him. My only worry now is they take that sacred Cup to the White House and ruin the magic.

      • Kelly says:

        Ovi was amazing with the Cup. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a player have more fun with the Cup after winning.

      • hogtowngooner says:

        Leafs signed Tavares on Monday – they’re going for it!

    • BrandyAlexander says:

      The Vegas show is amazing! And man, did those guys bring it this year! I also can’t emphasize enough how much they did to help this city move forward and start to heal after the massacre. Every one of those guys get much respect from me.

  2. Nancy says:

    All of us were shocked….lol. Worst kept secret ever! I love Lebron James, the basketball player, and I respect LeBron James, the man. He did what he promised and gave us a championship. I wish him nothing but the best. On the flip side, who do I root for now? Go Tribe!!

    • lightpurple says:

      Nancy, I know this hits you hard but you’re putting on a good face. Enjoy the Tribe, they have a great manager in Tito.

      • Nancy says:

        lp: Not really. We all knew he was going. Real life hit me harder this summer. But I have my two year old and her new sibling coming at Xmas time, so I am otherwise occupied!! It was a great ride with Bron and I will continue to be his fan, he’s amazing.

      • lightpurple says:

        Best wishes on the new little one.

    • raptor says:

      We all knew LeBron was leaving, but I’m a little salty he would only sign single year contracts with the Cavs and went for a multi-year deal with the Lakers. Having the stability of knowing a star player is going to be there makes it easier to build a team.

      Ultimately, though, he brought us a championship, like he said he would. He will keep doing good in the community. He owes Dan Gilbert absolutely nothing.

      And yes! Go Tribe! I hope they can keep it together this year.

    • delphi says:

      Yep. Go Tribe!

      //praying Brantley stays even though he’s a free agent after this season

    • BrandyAlexander says:

      Nancy, I was totally thinking of you as I heard the news last night. I’m not even mad at him for leaving this time, but I won’t root for him or the Lakers. My loyalties lie with the team, and not the player. And living in fairly close proximity to LA – I shudder to think of all the Lakers jerseys that will pop up everywhere here now (better than GSW, I guess). And a big GO TRIBE from me!

      • Nancy says:

        Ha! That’s funny. This last season just sucked. I think Kyrie put a curse on us…jk. I was angry the first time, but this time is different. I’m not going to root for the Lakers either. I’ve been reading tweets and he has most of Hollywood to root for him….lol. Well, we have Ohio State, right? I know you love the Indians for romantic reasons…love. Cleveland will survive, we always do. I’ve had many losses and gains personally recently so it is kind of a nice distraction. What was once so important really is just a pastime. How my, so heavy on Monday morning! Ttul…..always a pleasure. In this heat, I could sip on a nice cold Brandy Alexander…..but that won’t come until after my baby is here.

      • BrandyAlexander says:

        Yo can probably blame me for that heat – I just visited in a couple weeks ago, and it seemed like the Vegas heat came with me and stayed (it’s really hot here too, though). I hope it cools down by the time I return in September.

        Sorry to hear you are having troubled times. Just wait until that little one pops out, all will seem right with the world again!

      • Spicecake38 says:

        Yeah,hey Nancy I knew you’d be a little bummed,we are too,but also know you seem to be someone with perspective.LeBron is a decent human,and a huge talent,obviously.I remember a time when the world seemed a little smaller,and if you could stay and play in your home town,you did -especially when making $$$.Bron gave Cleveland our championship,and now he’s moving on,I believe he’s as much celebrity as ball player these days and will enjoy his career in LA.Not becoming a Lakers fan,but will wish him well.Truthfully,his relationship with Dan Gilbert has had me on edge for a while now,and it’s stupid to worry about the things we don’t control.Wishing you peace in your tough times,and GO TRIBE😉

      • Nancy says:

        Spice Girl! We will all be fine as Bron goes Hollywood! Thank you and BrandyAlexander and sweet lightpurple for your kind words. You make me feel like you said….when the world seemed a little smaller, people caring for others. I’m better! Life goes on. Plus I’m carrying this child in 95 degree heat, now that’s love. Everyone have a Happy Fourth! Bang, bang, boom…………..

  3. Louise177 says:

    I don’t follow basketball closely but Lebron doesn’t strike as being celebrity/famous first. I think he was fed up with Cleveland and still wants another title. The Lakers have the money to build a team around him.

  4. Millennial says:

    I can’t imagine Savannah is thrilled. Didn’t she stay in Cleveland when LeBron played in Miami? Maybe she will embrace LA, but I always thought she was more concerned with staying near family and not having to pull her kids out of their schools/away from friends. Wonder if she will stay home again.

    • Miss Kittles says:

      No she actually opened a juice shop in Miami. But I agree I don’t think she’s thrilled. His oldest son is now enrolled into a school in LA. So I think she has no choice but to move. They’ve had a home out there for awhile now.

  5. Prettykrazee says:

    He had a better chance staying in Cleveland and not driving off Kyrie. Bc it’s much easier to get to the finals in the east. If everyone is healthy in Boston next year, they are definitely going to the finals.

    That’s one helluva of team they are going to have to build around him bc it’s going to be extremely difficult to get to the finals. You have Houston, OKC, Golden State and Portland in the west. They are some good teams. Any of those teams would have handed the Cavaliers their butts in the finals. And now he has to play them just to get to the finals! Ok!

  6. Eric says:

    Kaiser:
    Great job with the sports post!

    I suggest you delve into the World Cup a bit. There are compelling stories and already there have been major upsets (in the Group Stage and this past weekend’s knockout round).

    How’s this for a factoid? Italy, Germany, Argentina, and Spain are all out. Combined they have won 11 of the 20 World Cup Finals.

    Also there’s 19-year-old Mbappe who scored 2 vs Argentina Saturday. Rising star to many although Monacco and PSG fans know who he is.

    • lightpurple says:

      I watched that whole Denmark v Croatia game yesterday. After they both scored almost immediately at the start, I thought it would be wild one and it was. I just had to wait until the end of the overtime for it to get really wild

    • Mara says:

      I’d love some world cup gossip. I really want to know what is happening/happened in the German camp.
      Mbappe was incredible, if he an maintain that form then the last match was a kind of passing the goat torch from Messi.

    • Slowsnow says:

      Mbappé is amazing.

    • gingersnaps says:

      Neymar’s antics on the pitch are truly pathetic. I wonder if he knows that he looks like such a w-nker doing that. Instead of people respecting or admiring him it’s just a turn off. Belgium and Brazil can go at it and murder themselves at the quarter finals for all I care. Absolutely gutted for Japan, the last Asian team standing in the knockout stage and they let it slip away.

  7. Rescue Cat says:

    Meh. $154 – million isn’t as much as it used to be.

  8. Beth says:

    I was kind of hoping he’d join my Celtics, but it wasn’t surprising that he chose to trade to the LA Lakers. He owns houses in Los Angeles. The $$$ that some of these players make is mind blowing!

    • Prettykrazee says:

      Haha! That would’ve been awesome! All of that boohooing and maneuvering Kyrie did to get out of Cleveland and away from Lebron would have been for naught! It’s too funny just thinking about what might have been.

    • lightpurple says:

      He really wasn’t wanted here. Kyrie left Cleveland to get away from him. The Celtics don’t have much wiggle room under the cap so to sign him, they would have to clear up space on the roster and give up a lot like Terry and Jaylen. I want Terry and Jaylen around for a long, long time. They’re the future while LeBron is heading for the pasture.

      • Mo' Comments Mo' Problems says:

        Jaylen is so good and has a lot of potential! Hope everyone is healthy for the upcoming season because it’ll be a hell of a fight.

      • lightpurple says:

        Jaylen is so super cool, so much swagger. It is almost frightening. My great aunt, age 89, says he reminds her of Satch Sanders, and she has had a lifelong crush on Satch Sanders. Having met both Satch and Jaylen, yes, they’re very much alike. And Jayson Tatum is just phenomenal. They both have ice in their veins. During that conference final, those kids didn’t know they weren’t supposed to be that far; they didn’t care. So cocky, true Celtics. And Scary Terry adds to the fun. Full strength next season with Kyrie and Gordon is going to be so fantastic if everyone stays healthy. And they need to bring Aron Baynes back.

    • Ms. Blake says:

      Yeah, we were hoping he’d come to Portland, Oregon and join the Blazers. Regardless, you can’t fault him for his decision ($$$ and nice weather).

  9. magnoliarose says:

    This was expected. I think Cleveland already knew he was leaving it was just a matter of where. I don’t blame him. He can go large in LA.
    The World Cup has my family excited and it is thrilling right now. Tennis coming up means a lot of opportunities for sports articles.

    • bma says:

      i think most of us knew he was leaving. my thought was for a lot of non-basketball reasons, he wanted to stay in NEO (he does consider this place his home) but for basketball, he wanted to leave. Cavs couldn’t put a supporting cast around him and he gave them years to do it.

      that said, getting out of the Western Conference Finals is gonna be MUCH harder than it was to get out of the East. Props if LA can do it, but I don’t see it happening unless there’s an injury or major change in the line-up of GSW.

  10. Tiffany says:

    I am just happy this was handled by the than when he went to Miami. That left a bad taste in my mouth for a minute.

  11. nona says:

    Big Cavs fan here. This guy gives his heart and soul to northeast Ohio through his charities and leadership programs. He did what he promised to do—gave the city a ring. I will always root for him. And now for the Lakers, apparently! (Seriously, if you’re a Cleveland sports fan, you have to have back-up teams to root for. The Browns haven’t made it to the playoffs in years, and the Tribe and Cavs break your heart when they do.)

  12. Reef says:

    As a Laker’s fan for the past 24 hours, I’m very happy with his choice (though I have so many questions about the rest of team). Magic Johnson did in a couple of months what Jim Buss couldn’t do for almost a decade. #LakerNation

  13. Miss Kittles says:

    Professionally this was the best choice for him. He wants to create a legacy & he was limited on the Cavs. Im sad but I am happy for him. I hope he succeeds!

  14. hollah says:

    Double post.

  15. Tania says:

    Just a point to make. I see many people talking about “The Tribe” and that leaves a bad taste in my mouth. That team is disgusting and disrespectful and would have never been a “Tribe” in the traditional sense of the word. Words are important.

    • Miss Kittles says:

      You can be a “tribe” without being Native American. I’ve heard that referenced in different circumstances before… such as a large family.
      Also keep in mind, the players are not responsible for the name. It’s the owners, etc. also please note, the mascot has not been chief wahoo for quite some time. It’s now slider… whatever the hell he is…

      • Tania says:

        Yes, I understand you can be a “tribe” without being Native American. I don’t need to be explained to. The reason they call them the “Tribe” is because of a derogatory name they refuse to change. The players get to choose what team they play for. So they’re not victims and they are complicit.

        Don’t deflect and minimize the point I’m making here.

      • Nancy says:

        She forget to mention the Atlanta Braves, Golden State Warriors, Chicago Blackhawks and Kansas City Chiefs. Rome wasn’t built in a day. Change will come Tania.

    • Tania says:

      I didn’t forget any of those teams. I was specific because of the association with Cleveland. But, since you brought it up:

      Kansas City Chiefs (which is where I live, by the way): I don’t watch the NFL. I detest the league and have since they punished a dude who was involved in dog fighting but ignored all the domestic violence charges against many of their players. Therefore, they valued dogs more than they valued women. THEN they banned Kap for taking a knee. The NFL in general was cancelled by me a long time ago.

      Now, onto the Chiefs. I was going to side eye every Chiefs shirt I saw here but researched first. They actually met with local Indigenous Peoples about their name and had many educational sessions and have done a lot of work. If the local Indigenous Peoples are okay with the use of the name, I wasn’t going to argue with them since I’m a guest on their land.

      Atlanta Braves: they’re cancelled.

      Chicago Blackhawks: They were, “named after Frederic McLaughlin’s U.S. Army battalion in World War I (which called itself the Black Hawks in honor of American Indians). Chicago has done a lot of leg work in working with the “Indian Center” in Chicago on restoration and education. If the local Indigenous Peoples take no issue, neither do I. Also, before a hockey game in November, they hosted a song and dance before a game for Native American Heritage month.

      Golden State Warriors: The name itself has garnered controversy and lack of response was troubling, however their logo no longer depicts racial stereotypes and there are no “tomahawk chop” or “indian calls” in the stands at their games so the jury is still out.

  16. Sayrah says:

    Not bad for a sports article! One note, he’s not arguably the best player in the nba, that’s a given. The argument is whether he or Michael Jordan is the greatest player of all time.

    • minx says:

      At this point, Jordan. We’ll see what happens in the next few years.

      • Nancy says:

        It depends on which generation you’re in. Older people tend to say Jordan since they witnessed his greatness. Many in my generation say LeBron. But you’re right, the future will tell.

      • minx says:

        Jordan does have 6 championship rings.

      • Nancy says:

        Bill Russell has 11. Right, @lightpurple. He won his first in his rookie year. He so doesn’t get the props he deserves.

      • lightpurple says:

        Bill Russell. High School Champion. NCAA champion. Olympic Champion. First African American head coach of ANY professional sports team. 11 times NBA champion, Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient. End of discussion.

      • minx says:

        Jordan! Jordan! Jordan! 😂😂😳

      • Nancy says:

        minx, I see how you got your name! You little minx! Lol. @lp, whenever the who is the GOAT topic comes up with my husband and his buddies, Bill Russell’s name comes up EVERY time. Obviously in my heart, the hometown boy wins, but Bill Russell is the genesis of the greatness. MJ and LBJ bow down to the original GOAT, Bill Russell. EOC

  17. Esmom says:

    I like LeBron and am happy with his choice. My teenage son, however, feels he’s being disloyal to Cleveland, and he felt the same way when Durant left OKC and Paul George left Indy. Sigh. I’m bummed to see his idealism crushed but I think he’s finally gotten the message that loyalty to a city isn’t really the priority for these guys.

    • Miss Kittles says:

      Explain to your son all the charity work Lebron does for NEO. He’s still pumping money into low income areas & helping children. That’s true loyalty! He will always invest into this area.

      • Esmom says:

        Yes, he knows about that and it does make him feel better. He still equates wearing the jersey with the ultimate in loyalty, though. Bless his heart, sigh.

    • BrandyAlexander says:

      I’m not a little kid, and I feel the same as your son. LOL. I’m not mad at him this time around, but I won’t root for him on another team, and I definitely think all the hopping taints his legacy. LeBron was at least partially to blame for the disfunction going on with that team, but then cuts bait and runs when he can’t work with it.

      • Spicecake38 says:

        I agree he was partially to blame for recent dysfunction on the team.Le Bron wants what he wants,and he’s arguably the greatest of all time,he had them where he wanted them.Notice the anxieties Kevin Love and Ty Lue ,went through-IMO there were tensions behind the scenes.

      • BrandyAlexander says:

        Spicecake -exactly! Kevin Love was the one I really didn’t want to see go (though I don’t think he stays at the end of his contract if they don’t get some talent around him). I have a lot of respect for LeBron, and I think what he does off the court is amazing. But I am hoping with the uncertainly of his 1 year contracts, and acting as a defacto GM in LA now, that the team can stabilize and start building a contender again. If only we could get David Griffin back.

    • says:

      I mean honestly I feel the same way and I have lost quite a bit of respect for him (the basketball player, not the person). He is the reason the Cavs are tied in some pretty terrible and probably untradeable contracts, and now he’s bailed again. Sure he did what he said he would but I feel like the Cavs would have been better off sticking with Kyrie. Maybe it would have taken longer but it would have been better for the franchise in the long run . I just hope they decide to trade K. Love cause he deserves better than this.

      • Spicecake38 says:

        Kevin Love leaving 💔😞😟But you are correct in that he deserves the best IMHO.He was hot or not /off or on the past few seasons,but I think he’s a great rebounder,and when he’s on ,his ability to get the three pointers is superb.Hes also a true team player,and I’m so glad he decided to share his struggles with depression/anxiety.He seems like a nice guy and by just sharing his own problems has probably impacted other people’s lives.

      • says:

        The way I see it is they never found a way to use his strengths to their advantage. They managed it now and again (like game 2 vs the Raptors in the playoffs) but his role was mostly a spot up shooter which he is not. And I absolutely agree with you on all points. I was especially moved by the fact he decided to share something so personal in such detail. And I think it wouldn’t have had the same effect is he had just said he struggled with anxiety. So for that I will always root for him. And I hope he ends up at OKC somehow.

  18. JessicaT says:

    Lakers about to be mainstream again with him on the team lol

    • Melissa says:

      Ugh, I know! If before so many celebrities attended Lakers games for no reason, now that LeBron has been signed they will leave no empty seats at the Staples Center. As we call those people here in Mexico: villamelones. All of them. 😒

  19. Veronica says:

    I am inordinately fond of him despite not being much of a sport fan, so, uh, get that money honey.

    • Nancy says:

      A lot of people who aren’t even sports fans like Bron, if for no other reason than calling 45 a bum. He gets attacked from the right relentlessly and shuts them up pretty quick. Isn’t that right, Laura Ingraham.

  20. Jordan says:

    Why the fuck does anyone need $154 million to play a fucking sport?? The NFL, NBA, all of those sports are ridiculously overpaid.

    • Beth says:

      I’m a huge sports fan, and I admire the talent of the athletes, but you’re so right about how overpaid they are. $154 million for 4 years is mind blowing ridiculous

    • Esmom says:

      No argument here.

    • Reef says:

      It’s a billion dollar business. They are paid according to their value to said business. He’s actually underpaid considering his effect on Cleveland socially and economically. Pre-Leborn Cleveland vs Post-Lebron Cleveland is an astronomical difference.

    • Prettykrazee says:

      Seriously? 154 million is a bargain for a player of his caliber. The Lakers are lucky to get him for such a low price. He deserves every cent. These athletes deserve it all. They are the ones putting butts in the seats. The audience tunes in at home because of them. The stations pay the owners billions of dollars every year to broadcast those games. They are putting their bodies through h3ll year after year. NFL players are literally putting their lives on the line every time they play. I don’t think they get paid enough!

    • Killjoy says:

      Really, it’s the NBA players pulling in this kind of cash. The teams are much smaller than a football roster, and the greatness of each player on the court matters so much more. LeBron has games where he scores 1/3 of the points the team puts on the board. But yeah, it’s a mind-blowing amount of money.

    • Veronica S. says:

      I mean, it’s obnoxious in terms of how underpaid everybody else is, but he’s not a CEO screwing over employees under him, so it doesn’t bother me AS much as it normally does. The non-profit status of the NFL is a different story.

    • lightpurple says:

      Some perspective. Starting NBA salary, no experience is $850K. Salary for one year experience is $1.3 million. Average NBA career is less than 5 years. Average salary, factoring in the big salaries like Durant, Curry, and LeBron along with those $850K guys is $6 million. 30 teams, 12-14 players per team. Most difficult of the five major professional team sports in the US to get into because there are so few slots. Strong union fights for healthcare benefits and pensions for retired players.

  21. JennyJenny says:

    So happy to see LeBron going to LA ~
    I hope he is treated well by the Buss family (who can be soooo strange sometimes!)

  22. Green Is Good says:

    So, I guess money is no problem for Lebron.😉

  23. KiddV says:

    I love that Chrissy Teigen scooped all of the news agencies with a photo of LaBron leaving an embroidery place in LA, he was getting his name put on a Lakers jersey. LOL

    Good for the Lakers, now maybe they’ll stand a chance against the Warriors. Odds are still in favor of the Warriors to win the Championship again.

  24. Killjoy says:

    I’d love to see more sports stories – particularly NBA! I’m trying to get into the NBA and wean myself off the NFL because that league just does not market itself for women, or seem to care about women at all, so why am wasting my time with it? (And it’s problematic AF because of the CTL and player protest issues.) I told my husband I could get more into the NBA if he could point me to players with good instagrams, lol. I grew up watching NFL, and it’s just so addictive.

  25. cf86713 says:

    I like the Lakers its LeBron I don’t care for.

    Ugh

    • Spicecake38 says:

      Not being snarky,but would honestly like to know why.We live near Cleveland and are born and bred to adore our teams and any hometown player like Le Bron.Most of our news stories are only about how great he is of course.Seriosly wondering why those who don’t care for him feel that way,’cause in our world he is (was?)golden.

      • cf86713 says:

        He’s a great player but I’m not a fan for a variety of reasons.
        1) I’m a Pacers fan and he’s killed my team too many times.

        2) Everyone around him becomes scapegoated if he falls short.

        I mean take the Cavs this time around all those scrubs came/re-signed to the team at his behest. Gilbert as much as I dislike him did everything he wanted and he still ditched them yet again for the mess he created.

        He also has the nerve to complain about not getting calls, superteams etc as if his entire career hasn’t benefitted from this.

        He’s one of the greatest to ever do it but I don’t care for the BS that comes with him.

        He’s my 3rd most hated athlete of all time.

        That being said he’s way smarter than most of his peers about a lot of things.

      • Spicecake38 says:

        Cf86713,thank you for sharing your opinion.when you said everyone around him gets scapegoated if he falls short…👏👏👏Now who are your other two most hated of all time 😏…

      • Nancy says:

        cf8………..I want to know who number 1 and 2 are….Brady, Curry, Curry’s wife…lol. Do tell. Off to dinner with hubby Spicecake, long strange day. Dick Feagler died. Remember him? Old time newscaster, snarky, but I remember seeing him at a restaurant and he was very polite, or else checking me out…lol. Bye LeBron. Glad @Kitten isn’t around today, couldn’t handle her calling him bron-bron!!!!

      • cf86713 says:

        1)Jordan
        2)Brady

      • Nancy says:

        I knew it was Brady! Good choice with Jordan too!

  26. Eileen says:

    It’s hard to see how much money athletes and actors and reality stars make vs teachers and cops and firemen and nurses tbh. I make a good wage but you look at Lebron James’ contract I feel underpaid

  27. Aubrey says:

    “That’s why I’ve tried to get better about sports gossip: it’s just as exciting and drama-filled and beef-happy as celebrity gossip. ”
    I think this sentence needs an explanation point!

  28. hogtowngooner says:

    As a Raptors fan, I’m glad this thorn in our side is moving to the Western Conference!