Lakers rookie Bronny James signed a fully guaranteed contract with the team, according to ESPN, the same day his father, LeBron, also agreed to a massive $104 million ($AU154.9m) extension with Los Angeles.
Bronny, 19, signed a four-year, $7.9 million ($AU11.7m) contract worth under $1.2 million ($AU1.78m) in the first year, escalating each year after.
The final year of his contract is a $2.48 million ($AU3.69m) team option for the 2027-28 season.
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This contract is a stark difference to what the No. 55 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft pick, Isaiah Wong, signed with the Pacers.
Wong signed a two-way contract worth $559,782 – 14 times less than what James will be paid – but under new CBA rules, it is only partially guaranteed if the player secures a regular-season roster spot.
The Pacers’ No. 55 pick from 2023 did not play a minute in the NBA last season and is not on the Pacers’ summer league roster, so he will likely be a free agent.
The contract Wong signed likely had something to do with leverage, as the slots are predetermined in terms of value.
Still, James is being given every benefit available to him by the Lakers as he looks set to step into the massive shadow that is cast by his father.
Most other second-round picks do not get fully guaranteed four-year deals; only three second-round players in 2023 were given fully guaranteed contracts of three years plus a team option in the fourth year.
The Lakers’ second-round pick in 2023, Maxwell Lewis, was taken No. 40 overall and was guaranteed the first two years, with the third year only partially guaranteed.
“Bronny has earned this. Bronny talks about his hard work. Bronny has earned this through hard, hard work,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said Tuesday.
“For us, prioritising player development, we view Bronny as Case Study 1, because his base level of feel, athleticism, point of attack defender, shooting, passing. There’s a lot to like about his game and we sort of build out our player development program holistically, he’s going to have a great opportunity to become an excellent NBA player.”
James will now look to make a stamp on a Lakers roster that may have a tough time fitting him into the rotation.
The team brings back guards Cam Reddish, Max Christie, Gabe Vincent, Austin Reaves, and former first-round pick Jalen Hood-Schifino.
James played in 25 games for USC in 2023, averaging 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game while only starting six games.
By all accounts, the USC product had an excellent showing at the NBA Draft Combine, and his agent, Rich Paul, had told other teams not to draft him with the threat of playing in Australia instead.
This article was originally published at the New York Post and was republished with permission.