{"id":577407,"date":"2026-04-01T00:34:09","date_gmt":"2026-04-01T00:34:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/577407\/"},"modified":"2026-04-01T00:34:09","modified_gmt":"2026-04-01T00:34:09","slug":"patrick-beverley-nba-must-pay-lebron-james-50-million-per-year-until-hes-46","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/577407\/","title":{"rendered":"Patrick Beverley: NBA Must Pay LeBron James $50 Million Per Year Until He’s 46"},"content":{"rendered":"

LeBron James\u2019<\/a> future has become one of the biggest questions that will plague the Lakers\u2019 front office once this season ends. The internet is filled with reports and rumors of what the Lakers\u2019<\/a> forward should do going into the offseason.<\/p>\n

Having completed 23 years in the league by that time, LeBron James, as a free agent at age 41, would be able to command a significant salary despite his age due to what he still brings to the table.<\/p>\n

In fact, his former teammate, Patrick Beverley<\/a>, believes that James deserves to be guaranteed a $50 million per year for the next five seasons as well, simply for carrying the league as long as he has.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just feel like the NBA owes LeBron so much, business-wise, so much money. I think LeBron James has generated so many billions and billions of dollars for the NBA. I think he\u2019s one of the people in the NBA who can be like, \u201cOkay, yeah, I still want my $50 million a year every year until I turn 46.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think I think that\u2019s the least that the NBA can do, how much money he\u2019s generated for the NBA. like how many views, how many people tuned in, how many people like LeBron James, I think it\u2019s owed to him if he wants to play until he\u2019s 50 years old and continue making $50-$55-$60 million a year.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think he\u2019s owed that. I think that\u2019s at least what the NBA can do, given everything he\u2019s done for the league and for the NBA brand. So yeah, I think it\u2019s up to him,\u201d said Beverley in episode three of his new \u2018Pat Bev Show.\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t even think it\u2019s age. I literally think it\u2019s up to him when it\u2019s, \u2018you know what? I\u2019m cool off this man I\u2019m gone\u2019 type s\u2013t but like physically wise like mentally wise man 47-48 like come on man, King James. A crown, a king man for real, king for a reason.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo yeah, shout out to LeBron James, longevity matters, as we always state about longevity matters, how you take care of your body matters. I don\u2019t know why people like to take that out, as if longevity doesn\u2019t matter,\u201d Beverley concluded.<\/p>\n

Some might say that Beverley\u2019s take is flawed since the two were teammates for 45 games in the 2022-23 season. Others might say that he\u2019s right, especially since James is playing exceptionally well even at age 41.<\/p>\n

James is currently averaging 20.9 points, 7.0 assists, and 6.0 rebounds while shooting 51.2% from the field and 31.8% from beyond the three-point line.<\/p>\n

Now, in terms of logic, I understand where Beverley is coming from, but guaranteeing James that much money at this stage in his career will dig up several issues for the future.<\/p>\n

For example, former players who already seem to have an issue with the amount of money the younger players are earning<\/a>, and the number of players who have struggled with bankruptcy after retirement, if they see James get this money, it will lead to an even bigger generational divide in the league.<\/p>\n

Moreover, contracts have always been about the player\u2019s present value to the league, not something that teams can just afford to give away when a player is not the key asset on the team.<\/p>\n

Additionally, I don\u2019t even think it\u2019s about money at this point in James\u2019 career. He\u2019s a billionaire, and he\u2019s not retiring only due to his love of the game and the competition. And the best formula for success at that age would be to join a team with a solid core, which won\u2019t happen unless he agrees to a reduced salary.<\/p>\n

Sources have also suggested<\/a> that the Lakers would consider bringing him back on the roster if he takes a significant pay cut<\/a>. Therefore, James might deserve a $50 million per year salary in a league with no salary caps.<\/p>\n

However, with the prevailing conditions and the rationale for which the salary cap exists in the first place, giving James a contract of that size at this stage in his career would be a disastrous beginning to a domino effect. It could see several unhappy former players in the league as well, let alone what it would signify for his legacy.<\/p>\n

Do you think James should leave the Lakers for greener pastures or stay and take a pay cut? Let us know what you think in the comments section.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"LeBron James\u2019 future has become one of the biggest questions that will plague the Lakers\u2019 front office once…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":577408,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[557],"tags":[64,63,590,85],"class_list":{"0":"post-577407","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nba","8":"tag-au","9":"tag-australia","10":"tag-nba","11":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/577407","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=577407"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/577407\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/577408"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=577407"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=577407"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=577407"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}