Kobe Bryant signed a two-year contract extension with the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday. A deal that is worth $48.5 million.
Bryant, 35, will maintain his status as the NBA's highest-paid player over the course of the extension. The 2007-08 league MVP will receive $23.5 million in the first year and $25 million in the second year of the extension.
“This is a very happy day for Lakers fans and for the Lakers organization,” Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak said in a statement. “We’ve said all along that our priority and hope was to have Kobe finish his career as a Laker, and this should ensure that that happens”, NBAonSI.com .
The terms represent a pay cut for Bryant, who is the highest paid player in the NBA this season at $30.5 million, but he will remain at the very top of the league’s player salaries lists. His reported $23.5 million salary in 2014-15 and $25 million salary in 2015-16 are currently league-leading, narrowly topping Knicks forward Amar’e Stoudemire and Nets guard Joe Johnson.
“God bless Kobe Bryant,” Jeff Van Gundy said with a laugh, when asked on ESPN for his reaction. “Good for him.”
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