In signing with the Los Angeles Lakers, LeBron James appears to be willing to see his eight-year NBA Finals run get snapped this upcoming season. According to Lakers president Magic Johnson, an understanding between James and himself was established prior to the blockbuster signing — an unwritten mutual agreement that the team would not be bringing home the coveted NBA Championship overnight.

“I asked him what his expectations are, and he said he understood where we were, as an organization, as a team, and what we’re building,” Johnson said, per Sam Amick of USA TODAY Sports. “He was really happy that Rob and I were not rushing, not making mistakes by rushing, and I told him that we had a three-year plan, we had a plan that we wanted to execute and that he could really take that plan to a whole ‘nother level.”

Despite the Lakers being heavy favorites to land LeBron this summer, many were still surprised by his decision to join a team currently undergoing a building phase. At the age of 33 and with 15 seasons under his belt, a win-now scenario would have been the more logical option for James — something that the Houston Rockets or even the Philadelphia 76ers was able to offer.

Nonetheless, James chose the longer and more arduous route to his fifth NBA title by joining the Lakers.

“I think that (James) had analyzed our roster,” Johnson added. “He had analyzed the situation, and so he was willing to say, ‘Hey, I’m going to make a long-term commitment to the Laker organization.’ And so that’s what we needed as an organization. And then also, other players around the league can see that, and they’ll be willing to play with him, and come to the Lakers, because they know he’s going to be here. It also helps our players too, their own mindset that he’s going to be here as well.”

In Lance Stephenson, JaVale McGee, and Rajon Rondo, the club have already scooped up three veterans that will be pivotal in achieving their objectives. Surely, their decision to sign for the Lakers were influenced by James being in the fold. Now, it will be exciting to see how many more big names the franchise will be able to lure in the next few years, as projected by Magic Johnson.