Kendrick Perkins wins ‘left big toe’ bet after LeBron James signs max $104 million contract

Kendrick Perkins believed LeBron James would eventually sign the max contract with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Kendrick Perkins wins ‘left big toe’ bet after LeBron James signs max $104 million contract

Kendrick Perkins won the bet of LeBron James' pay cut

LeBron James is entering his 22nd season in the NBA, the oldest player in the league. Hence, the star has little time to win another championship, so James has done everything he can to improve the Lakers’ roster. The four-time champion was even willing to take a pay cut to add another star, but Kendrick Perkins was not convinced.

A few days ago, the former center on ESPN claimed that he would ‘bet his left big toe’ that LeBron James would not take a pay cut for the Lakers’ future. Kendrick Perkins was right, to say the least, as James signed a two-year max $104 Million contract with the team. As a result, Perkins hilariously posted on his social media about not losing his toe. 

Looks like I’m keeping my left Big Toe!!!
Kendrick Perkins via X
YouTube video

Perkins claimed on NBA Today that James focuses on his 5th ring and not the organization’s future. The star wanted his ‘hire’ JJ Redick to have success in the team with James at his best and another star by his side. That is why the four-time MVP was willing to cut down on his salary to add a veteran like Klay Thompson and James Harden.

FS Video

However, James’ preparation for his reduced salary was useless as Thompson rejected the star and the Lakers. Now, it seems like the team may be unable to land a star or veteran, considering their extension with James. The Lakers certainly have been struggling to recruit and improve, as with players, even coaches have rejected the team.

Skip Bayless also did not believe in LeBron James’ pay cut

James has been called a liar by NBA fans in the last couple of weeks. From the Lakers hiring Redick to drafting Bronny James and now James signing the max contract, the star has not remained very truthful. Hence with Perkins, many others also did not believe in James’ pay cut story, including Skip Bayless.

James’ agent, Rich Paul, revealed that James wanted to take a pay cut to add the star, which did not sit well with Bayless. The Undisputed host took to his social media to express his doubts about the news. Bayless believed that the news was a PR stunt as the team would not be able to defeat the Mavericks’ offer to Thompson. 

No way LeBron was going to take less than the max $160 mil for 3 yrs - so no way the Lakers could compete with the Mavs' offer for Klay (including no state tax). Rich Paul was just blowing PR smoke setting up LBJ as the poor sacrificing superstar who has no help.
Skip Bayless via X

After the max contract news, Bayless did not forget to call out James again. The 39-year-old taking one million less would be the ‘least he could do’ according to Bayless, but the four-time champion did not even do that. Hence, both Bayless and Perkins were right on the money about James.

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