LeBron James could lead the biggest salary cut in NBA history

LeBron James has written his name in golden letters in the NBA, setting marks that seem unreachable: all-time leading scorer, most appearances on the All-NBA First Team, most All-Star selections, and records of consistency in the playoffs, among many other achievements. However, this summer could add an unexpected record to his resume, one related to his salary whether he changes teams or stays with the Los Angeles Lakers.

As explained by Frank Urbina at HoopsHype, if the rumors of James returning to the Cleveland Cavaliers come true, the player would face a historic salary cut. Currently, James earns 52.63 million dollars with the Lakers, totaling 583.9 million in guaranteed earnings. But the Cavaliers, constrained by the salary cap, could only offer him the veteran's minimum salary, which would imply earnings of approximately 3.9 million dollars for the 2026-27 season, nearly 49 million less than his last year in Los Angeles.

So far, the record for the largest salary cut is held by Russell Westbrook, who went from 47.1 million in 2022-23 to 3.8 million in 2023-24. He is followed by Blake Griffin, Klay Thompson, and Kevin Love, who also accepted significant cuts in different seasons. Even if James were to sign a contract for around 9 million dollars, he would still surpass all these precedents.

The Lakers' Option

Although there is a possibility that the Lakers may exercise the Bird Rights and offer him the maximum salary of 58.1 million, it is most likely that a return to Cleveland would involve a substantial salary adjustment. Thus, beyond the debates about his retirement, the upcoming season could mark a unique chapter in NBA economic history.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, LeBron James podría protagonizar el mayor recorte salarial en la historia de la NBA