The biggest name in basketball is headed to Hollywood.
Through a short news release issued by his agents at Klutch Sports, LeBron James announced at 8:05 p.m. Sunday night that he would join the Los Angeles Lakers in free agency and sign a four-year, $154 million contract.
In what has become an every-four-years-ritual for the three-time N.B.A. champion, James has chosen to switch teams for the third time in his career, opting to leave his home-state Cleveland Cavaliers for one of the league’s glamour franchises.
After four seasons, four consecutive trips to the N.B.A. finals and one unforgettable title run in 2016 with the Cavaliers — in a city that had gone 52 years without tasting championship glory — James will play in the Western Conference for the first time.