What were LeBron James' contract details in his first stint with Cleveland Cavaliers? All you need to know
LeBron James is highly regarded as his generation's greatest basketball player. James has always been compared with Michael Jordan for the entirety of his career. Even during his rookie year, the league expected great things from "The Chosen One". Fortunately, James lived up to the hype and exceeded expectations.
Now playing in his 20th season, James is still putting up the same numbers as he did when he first entered the league. "King" James is currently signed to a two-year contract worth $85.65 million with the LA Lakers. His consistent elite-level performances have helped him become one of the richest athletes in the world.
Considering the same, it makes you wonder how much a young James was being paid to play at an MVP level. Let's break down James' contract details during his first stint with the Cavs.
LeBron James contract details with Cleveland Cavaliers 2003-2010
LeBron James was the first overall pick of the 2003 NBA Draft selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers. On getting drafted, James signed a four-year entry-level contract worth $18.78 million. Honestly, the Cavs hit the jackpot with James. Basically, they were underpaying an MVP-caliber player who was only eligible to sign a rookie contract. James made an average of $4.69 million per year.
His first contract would last from 2003-2006. During that period, he averaged 26.7 points, 6.6 rebounds, 6.4 assists and 1.7 steals per game. These figures helped him get named as an All-Star in just his second season. LBJ is yet to miss an All-Star game since getting his first selection.
While it was a sweet deal for Cleveland to be paying the superstar a minimal amount, all good things must come to an end. In 2007, his rookie contract finally expired. He ended up re-signing with the Cavs for another four years. This time, his contract was worth $60.38 million. James made an average of $15.09 million per year.
When James signed his second contract with Cleveland, nobody could think it would be his last before he signed with Miami in 2010. No matter how disappointing his decision was, nobody can deny the greatness James brought to the team. LBJ single-handedly carried a relatively weak Cavaliers roster to the 2007 NBA Finals. The NBA legend also consistently helped the team make a deep playoff run.
Eventually, LeBron James returned home after winning two championships with the Miami Heat. Now possessing championship experience, he used it to his advantage, bringing home the Cavaliers' first NBA title in 2016. This historic achievement further cemented his legacy and solidified his status as the greatest Cavaliers player of all time.