According to Brian Windhorst of ESPN, Los Angeles Lakers superstar small forward LeBron James initially resisted the NBA's desire to start the 2020-21 season on December 22nd.
However, James eventually changed his mind due to financial reasons.
“LeBron initially pushed back against this, and subsequently, it's been explained to me that LeBron changed his position,” Windhorst said on his ESPN podcast, via RealGM.
“He crossed the aisle and said, ‘I'm okay going December 22nd even though I have to change my routines and I'm not happy about the short offseason because it's the best thing for business.' LeBron owes the NBA money right now. He owes them cash. As crazy as that is to say.”
LeBron James has already received his 2020-21 salary in full from the Lakers, which is $39,219,565. The King is one of the few stars in the NBA who gets his contract front-loaded, as that has been something Rich Paul and Klutch Sports have pushed for with their high-profile clients.
In the summer of 2018, James signed a four-year, $153.5 million maximum contract with the Lakers in free agency.
The 2020-21 NBA campaign will feature 72 games during the regular season. The Lakers, who won the 2020 title over the Miami Heat in six games at Walt Disney World, have one of the oldest rosters in the league, so it's going to be interesting to see how the players' bodies respond to the shortest offseason in NBA history.
James will turn 36 in December.
The NBA's draft will occur in less than two weeks with free agency expected to commence in a few days following the draft and training camp to begin on Dec. 1.
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