LeBron James Jokes About Ben Simmons’ Max Extension On Instagram

Lakers star LeBron James wasn’t the highest paid player on his team until he turned 30. So, it must be awkward for him to see younger players getting a lot of money. That’s what happened with Ben Simmons.

Shams Charania of The Athletic confirmed that Simmons has agreed to a five-year maximum contract extension worth $170 million.

King James decided to make a joke on the occasion, and let’s just say it’s hilarious.

Many thought that Simmons would join LeBron and Anthony Davis in Los Angeles.

“Rob Pelinka called me and said that Ben (Simmons) wanted to talk to Hall of Famers after the season, Magic was on the list,” Elton Brand said. “He asked for authorization… I said no. This was over a month ago.”

But, Simmons was pretty sure.

“It’s Philly. That’s what’s going to happen. I love it,” Simmons told reporters, via NBC Sports. “That’s how Philly is. If you can’t play here, you can’t. They’re going to give you s—, they talk s—, it is what it is. If you’re not playing well, they’re going to let you know, but I love being here. I love the fans here. I wouldn’t want to be in a place where they didn’t really care or only showed up when times are going well. A few years ago we were winning 10 games.”

John Wilmes of Deadspin thought that Davis’ contract will help Simmons make a different decision.

“It is clear that the Lakers’ president of basketball operations, Magic Johnson, is extremely into the prospect of this particular future,” he writes. “Simmons himself appeared to wish for it during the 2016 NBA Draft Lottery—in One & Done, he is shown watching the broadcast of the event and miming his hypothetical reactions if either the Sixers or the Lakers got the first pick and the right to sign him. When he imagines the Lakers getting it, he celebrates; when he imagines going to the Sixers, he shrugs wryly. Earlier in the movie, a Lakers blanket is visible in the background of his apartment. Currently, he dates L.A.-based famous person Kendall Jenner. You can decide what this all means.”