This is the 3rd time LeBron James has changed teams after a top-3 MVP finish.
It’s happened 3 other times in NBA history, once by Moses Malone, Wilt Chamberlain and Lenny Wilkens. pic.twitter.com/JwHTzARHGN
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) July 2, 2018
Cleveland Cavailers star forwarded Lebron James has reportedly agreed to a 4 year 154 million dollar deal with the Los Angeles Lakers. James deal with the Lakers is the longest deal of his career since signing a six year deal with the Miami Heat in 2010.
NBA superstar LeBron James agrees to a four-year, $154 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers https://t.co/Kx6KqhrNdG pic.twitter.com/gZD4K4mU1e
— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) July 2, 2018
Last season the 15 year veteran led the Cleveland Cavaliers to their 4th straight NBA Finals (his 8th). He is joining a Lakers team that has not made the Playoffs since 2012 and that finished last season with only 35 wins against 47 losses.
As @KingJames heads to Los Angeles, we take a look back at some of his best moments with the #Cavs#NBAFreeAgency pic.twitter.com/0S0F26KdUN
— NBA TV (@NBATV) July 2, 2018
Lebron James who was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers right out of high school in 2003 is a three time NBA Finals MVP and a 14 time NBA All-Star who finished the 2017-2018 season averaging 27.5 points ,9.1 assist and 8.6 rebounds per game. The move by the King now has him playing for Magic ( Earvin Johnson ) in the land of Glitter ( Los Angeles) making the Lakers a 7-2 favorite to win next seasons NBA title.
The Lakers have not made the playoffs in 5 straight seasons, the longest such streak in franchise history.
Prior to this 5 season stretch, the Lakers missed the playoffs just 5 times total from 1948-49 to 2012-13.
LeBron James has made the NBA Finals in 8 consecutive seasons. pic.twitter.com/Jh0zoTGHJW
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) July 2, 2018
Meanwhile the Cavaliers have now lost their career franchise leader in points, assits, rebounds and steals.