LeBron James‘ decision to secretly agree to join the Los Angeles Lakers on a four-year, $154 million contract has become the quietest bombshell in the history of the National Basketball Association (NBA).
The shock move which was announced by Klutch Sports in a nondescript tweet sees the 33-year-old move to the Western Conference but might not necessarily afect the domineering presence of the Golden State Warriors.
From going to the Miami Heat in 2010 to returning to the Cleveland Cavaliers four years later, every move LeBron James had made in the past eight years was based solely on winning.
James has always been laser-focused on trying to secure more championships, doing everything he can to run down Michael Jordan as the greatest player basketball has ever seen.
But on Sunday, James chose a different path by agreeing to a four-year deal with the Lakers, clearly stating that he feels quite secure about his legacy, choosing to go to the Lakers without any assurances another star would join him and without any clear path to championship contention this season..
For 15 straight seasons, James has mesmerized and dazzled basketball lovers all over the world with his greatness, playing at a higher level than virtually anyone in history while taking on a ridiculous nightly burden and never really getting hurt.
Eight years ago, James turned the basketball world on its head by leaving the Cavaliers for the Miami Heat. In doing so, he shepherded in a new era of self-determination in basketball, one that saw a cavalcade of stars change the status of free agency over the past few years.
By moving to Los Angeles, James is not only putting himself where he and his family will be comfortable, he is also willingly taking on the mantle of reviving the mystique of the Lakers, something that has dwindled in recent times.
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