LeBron James makes staggering $51m purchase from TV royalty
The NBA Finals got underway this week but apparently that wasn’t the only thing on LeBron James’ mind.
James played a starring role in his side's game one victory over the Miami Heat, but also turned heads off the court with a staggering multi-million dollar purchase.
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The Los Angeles Lakers superstar is in contract to buy a Beverly Hills mansion from the estate of "The Bold and the Beautiful" and "Young and the Restless" co-creator Lee Phillip Bell, according to The Real Deal.
The mansion was marketed with a price tag of $39 million ($A54 million), but James secured the property at $36.75 million ($A51 million), according to TMZ.
Obviously, James did not need to be in person to close the deal, as he has been across the country in the NBA bubble since mid-July.
LeBron expanding Los Angeles real estate
According to Hilton & Hyland, which listed the property, James is purchasing a four-bathroom, eight-bedroom, 9,146-square foot mansion with a view of both downtown Los Angeles as well as the Pacific Ocean.
The Mediterranean style compound contains two suites, seven fireplaces, a screening room, two separate guest houses, a lighted tennis court and a pool.
This is the third time James has purchased a massively expensive property in the Los Angeles area, as he also bought a $21 million ($A29 million) house in Brentwood in 2015, then a second $23 million ($A32 million) house in the same area in 2018.
This is the first time he’s made such a purchase as a member of the Lakers.
With more than $300 million in career earnings, more than $80 million more due to him in the next two years, a burgeoning media arm and countless endorsement deals, James can afford it.
James inspires Lakers to game one victory
On court, James and his Lakers are busy making headlines after their 116-98 demolition of the Heat in game one of the NBA finals.
Anthony Davis scored 34 points in his finals debut, while James had 25 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists to take a 1-0 lead into Saturday’s (AEST) game two.
"The bigger the moment, he's just raising his play," Lakers coach Frank Vogel said about Davis, who was making his finals debut and made it look easy.
The Heat left beaten and battered.
"We're much better than we showed tonight," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.
"You have to credit the Lakers, and we'll get to work for the next one."
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored 13 points, Danny Green had 11 and Alex Caruso finished with 10 for the Lakers.
They returned to the finals for the first time in a decade and sent a very clear message. James' teams had been 1-8 in Game 1 of past finals, with losses in each of the last seven openers.
Not this one.
"We kind of picked it up on both ends of the floor," Davis said.
Jimmy Butler fought through a twisted left ankle to score 23 points for Miami.
The Heat lost point guard Goran Dragic at halftime to a left foot injury and saw All-Star centre Bam Adebayo leave in the third quarter after apparently aggravating a left shoulder problem.
Kendrick Nunn scored 18 points for the Heat, Tyler Herro had 14 and Jae Crowder 12.
Adebayo was held to eight points in 21 minutes, and Miami went with subs for a fourth-quarter burst that turned a total rout into something only slightly more palatable in terms of final margin.
With AAP
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