EL SEGUNDO (AP) – Pormal nang lumagda ng kontrata sa Los Angeles Lakers si NBA four-time MVP LeBron James nitong Lunes (Martes sa Manila). Ngunit, walang inilabas na team policy at terms ng kontrata sa LA management.

“Today is a great day for the Lakers organization and Lakers fans all over the world to welcome LeBron James, a three-time NBA Champion and four-time NBA MVP,” pahayag ni Lakers President of Basketball Operations Earvin “Magic” Johnson inilabas na press statement. “LeBron is special. He is the best player in the world. He loves to compete and is an awesome leader who is about winning and making sure that his teammates are successful. The Lakers players are excited to have a teammate who has been to nine NBA Finals. It’s a huge step closer to returning the Lakers to the playoffs and to the NBA Finals,” aniya.

Nakapaglaro si James ng 82 games sa nakalipas na season, tangan ang team-high 27.5 puntos (third in the NBA), a career-high-tying 8.6 rebounds at career-high 9.1 assists (second in the NBA), habang nagtala ng 54.2 percent sa shooting.

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Tinapos niya ang season sa league-high 2,251 total points score at tinanghal na unang player sa kasaysayan ng NBA history na nakapagtala ng 30,000 career points, 8,000 rebounds at 8,000 assists. Hawak din ng 15-year NBA veteran ang longest-ever double-digit scoring streak sa 873 na laro.

“This is a historic moment for the Lakers, and we could not feel more grateful and honored,” sambit ni Lakers General Manager Rob Pelinka. “When LeBron James – a perennial NBA MVP and champion who is playing at the most astonishing levels of his career – chooses to join the Lakers, it serves as the ultimate validation for what we are building here. However, we all know that the work is not yet done. We will continue forward and do all that is necessary to achieve our shared obsession of bringing banner No. 17 to the world’s best fans – Lakers Nation,” aniya.

Tinanghal na MVP (2009, ’10, ’12, ’13), nakapaglaro si James sa 1,143 career regular season games (1,142 starts) para sa Cleveland at Miami, habang may averages na 27.2 puntos, 7.4 rebounds, 7.2 assists at 1.6 steals kada laro. Sa kasalukuyan, siya ang ikapito sa total points scored (31,038), 11th sa all-time assists (8,208) at 16th sa career steals (1,865).