LeBron James signed a 2-year, $97.1 million contract with the Lakers | National

James, 37, is entering the final year of his latest contract with the Lakers, who signed the four-time NBA MVP and four-time league champion in July 2018. The new deal means the 18-time All-Star will earn $46.7 million this season.

Barring injury, James will likely pass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the NBA’s career scoring king this winter. James and the Lakers also hope to contend for another title if James and Anthony Davis can return to full health after an injury-riddled 2021-22 season ended without a playoff appearance.

James’ new deal coincides with Davis’ latest contract extension with the Lakers, allowing both to leave the Lakers or sign new deals in 2024. Both superstars are represented by Klutch.

James’ renewed commitment to the Lakers also silences persistent talk of him possibly leaving as a free agent or traded. James was nowhere to be seen on social media or in public appearances, and he praised the hiring of new Lakers coach Darwin Hamm.

James missed a significant portion of the season due to injury in three of his four years with the Lakers. He was largely healthy in the extended 2019-2020 season, when the Lakers won the franchise’s 17th NBA title in the Florida bubble, and he was a dominant player in his best season when he was at full strength the next two years.

​While his contract status inspired plenty of chatter in the offseason, James seemed unlikely to move after spending the final four seasons of his 19-year career with the storied Lakers. His family settled in Los Angeles, where his oldest son, Brony, is a 17-year-old senior and basketball player at Sierra Canyon High School in Chatsworth.

James has said at times that he intends to play on the same team as Brony when his son reaches the NBA. Although many hurdles remain between the younger James and the NBA, he could be eligible for the draft in the summer of 2024.