LeBron James’ reported $15m deal with Polymarket could trigger ‘really weird’ salary cap circumvention

LeBron James seems to be making up for the money he lost by signing up for Polymarket.

After giving eight years of his career to the Los Angeles Lakers , LeBron James finally moved on from the franchise as he signed a two-year, $8 million deal with the Philadelphia 76ers .

James took a historic $48.7 million pay cut to ensure he joins a team that has a shot at winning the NBA Championship without taking up too much of its cap space.

While James will make just $4 million per season with the Sixers, he has seemingly made up the difference with an off-court deal with Polymarket, reportedly worth $15 million.

NBA insider thinks LeBron James' Polymarket deal could set off a chain reaction

The NBA is currently more alert about its stars' endorsement deals due to Kawhi Leonard and the LA Clippers being found guilty of salary cap circumvention.

Keeping that in mind, NBA insider Brett Siegel believes James' new deal with Polymarket is technically within league rules, but it could set off a 'really weird' chain reaction.

"As far as my knowledge goes, this doesn't interfere with any CBA rules, but moving forward, these side deals players have with companies could directly lead to smaller contracts to help with cap relief, which in theory, is kind of like cap circumvention. Really weird times," Siegel wrote on X.

Since the introduction of the second apron, NBA teams have been forced to give smaller deals to their stars to avoid luxury tax.

Siegel believes James has set up the blueprint for how the future may look for the top stars to give their cap relief by signing massive endorsement deals, as long as they are within the current CBA rules.