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LeBron James signs for LA Lakers in stunning £117MILLION move after leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers
The NBA star, 33, leaves the Cleveland Cavaliers after signing a bombshell four-year deal with the West Coast team
LeBRON JAMES has completed his stunning switch to the Los Angeles Lakers.
The NBA's biggest star moves to the league's most famous franchise after inking a massive $154million (£117m) contract over four years.
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LeBron, 33, had been linked with a move to the Lakers in recent months as it became clear his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers could not realistically compete with the Golden State Warriors.
Despite his advancing years and the wear and tear on his body, James remains the game's most dominant player - and one of sports highest-paid.
He is said to have a personal fortune of $730million (£555m), while there are rumours that Nike handed him a $1BILLION lifetime deal as his shoe line remains the best-selling of any current NBA star.
James led the Cavaliers to the Finals for the fourth successive year, but despite a superhuman personal performance - in which he averaged 34 points, eight rebounds, ten assists. a block and a steal - the Cavs were easily beaten in four games.
In a short statement, he said on Instagram: "Thank you Northeast Ohio for an incredible four seasons. This will always be home."
James, who was first drafted by the Cavs in 2003, is already considered one of the two best players in modern NBA history.
ESPN basketball commentator Stephen A. Smith explains how LeBron James deal to join the Lakers was done
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Only Michael Jordan stands in the way of James earning the 'G.O.A.T' tag and his legacy will be what has driven this decision.
Jordan won six NBA titles, never tasting defeat in the Finals, while James has so far won three - but his latest Finals loss is the sixth time he's come up short.
With Cleveland unable to put a team around James capable of competing, the forward heads to LA to join a young side with myriad possibilities of improving.
Lakers legend and president of basketball operations Magic Johnson landed his man having made a series of moves since getting the job in February 2017 to make room for him.
LeBron James factfile
NBA
- 3x NBA Champion: 2012, 2013, 2016
- 3x NBA Finals MVP: 2012, 2013, 2016
- 4x NBA MVP: 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013
- 14x NBA All-Star: 2005-18
- 12x All-NBA first team: 2006, 2008-18
- 2x All-NBA second team: 2005, 2007
- 5x NBA defensive first team: 2009-13
- 1x NBA defensive second team: 2014
- NBA rookie of the year: 2003
Team USA
- Olympic gold medal: 2008, 2012
- Olympic bronze medal: 2004
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The Lakers also lead the race for disgruntled San Antonio Spurs star Kawhi Leonard - who was considered the third best player in the NBA before an injury plagued campaign last season - and are linked with supremely talented free agent big man DeMarcus Cousins.
The lure of Los Angeles and the Lakers' storied history also means players always have eyes to play in purple and gold.
Unlike when he bolted from Cleveland for Miami in 2010, James leaves Ohio with the support of his local fans.
'The Decision' to move to Miami, after years of underachievement in Cleveland, sparked fury across the league, as he joined stars Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh with images of Cleveland fans burning his jersey.
Cleveland Cavaliers star JR Smith wastes chance to win - as he thinks his team are drawing in final seconds of NBA Finals game one
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In four years on South Beach, the Heat reached the Finals four times and won twice.
In 2014, James made a hero's return to Cleveland and brought home a title in 2016.
It was the first time in 52 years that a major title was won in Cleveland by a sports club in ANY of America's four major sports - lifting a so-called curse that hung over the city.
The Cavs reached the finals four times in four years but were beaten by the Warriors every year except 2016.
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After fellow star Kyrie Irving was traded to the Boston Celtics last summer the writing appeared to be on the wall for James and the Cavs.
A terrible start was only slightly improved by a mid-season shake-up that saw four players leave and four arrive.
And although the Cavs again reached the Finals, the route there was not the cake walk it had been in years past.
In game one of the Finals, James produced one of the all-time performances, scoring 51 points - yet the Cavs still lost.
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Two missed free throws and one of the most stupid plays in sports history ensured that while the rest of the series proved the Warriors were levels ahead of the Cavs.
Months of speculation came to a head on Friday, when James declined his $35.6m player option to remain with the Cavaliers.
His representatives took a meeting with the Philadelphia 76ers, but it appeared like James - who has starred in Hollywood films and bought a $23million (£17.5m) Beverley Hills mansion in December - was always destined for LA LA Land.
For the third time in his career, James now has the opportunity to create a title-winning team from scratch.
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