And it makes sense – Curry received his MVP award and helped the Warriors in their playoff run during that time period.
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The 30-year-old L. James, who returned previous year to the Cleveland Cavaliers after spending 4 seasons with the Miami Heat, also opted out of his contract with Miami last summer before announcing his return to Cleveland in a Sports Illustrated article. Chicago’s Derrick Rose is third and Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving is fourth.
James ranked No. 2 to Curry in jersey sales at NBAStore.com from April through June. The Cavaliers were second, followed by the Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs.
But next year, when a new television deal boosts the National Basteball Association salary cap, James could see his salary jump to US$32.4 million by opting out. He led the Warriors to a franchise-record 67 wins – plus 16 more in the playoffs – and their first championship in 40 years.
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The two-time National Basteball Association Champion, who was drafted in the first overall pick in the 2003 National Basteball Association Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers, has joined Stephen Curry as the only other unanimous choice for the All-NBA First Team. The Cavs have several free agents to deal with as well – most notably Kevin Love, Tristan Thompson, J.R. Smith, Iman Shumpert and Matthew Dellavedova – but they are known to be seeking depth on the wing and in the backcourt as well additional shooting. It just so happens that it was James’ Cavaliers who lost to the Warriors in the National Basteball Association Finals earlier this month.
