After fulfilling his promise and bringing Cleveland its first major sports title in 52 years, LeBron James is reportedly on track to becoming the NBA’s first $200 million player.
James opted out of his contract on Tuesday and is likely to sign a one-year deal with the Cavs for $27.5 million, which he has the option to do.
According to ESPN, when the NBA’s salary cap dramatically increases after next season, the Cavs will be in a position to “offer James a five-year deal that currently is projected to be worth between $201-205 million depending on various models NBA teams are using for revenue growth.”
That projected deal would make James “the highest-paid player in league history for the 2017-18 season by earning $35 million, passing Michael Jordan’s record of $33 million in 1997-98” and he would become the league’s first player to make $40 million a year in the 2019-2020 season.