In an offseason that has been bereft of big moves, the most impactful Lakers signing thus far is LeBron James extending for two years, guaranteeing that he remains in Los Angeles through at least the 2023-24 season.
At that point, James would be 39 and have played for 21 seasons, placing him in a tie for the second-longest career in league history behind only Vince Carter. It doesn’t necessarily guarantee that James would be finishing his NBA career in Los Angeles, however, though Jeanie Buss is certainly hoping that’s the case.
In an interview with Sam Amick of The Athletic, Buss expressed how important it is to her and the franchise that James retire as a Laker — a sentiment also echoed by general manager Rob Pelinka earlier this summer — and celebrate at least one more major milestone in purple and gold:
“It is a big vote of confidence when LeBron James signs a two-year extension, when he had many months to do so (he had until June 30, 2023, to sign this deal).