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EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Nov. 25 (UPI) -- Kobe Bryant has signed a two-year contract extension with the Los Angeles Lakers, the NBA team said Monday. Bryant, 34, who has played his entire 18-season NBA career with the Lakers, was in the final year of his current agreement. The contract extension links him to the team through the 2015-16 season
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Financial terms weren't released by the team. The Los Angeles Times reported Bryant will make $40 million-$50 million over the two years of the extension.
"This is a very happy day for Lakers fans and for the Lakers organization," Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak said. "We've said all along that our priority and hope was to have Kobe finish his career as a Laker, and this should ensure that happens.
"To play 20 years in the NBA, and to do so with the same team, is unprecedented, and quite an accomplishment. Most importantly however, it assures us that one of the best players in the world will remain a Laker, bringing us excellent play and excitement for years to come."
The Lakers have won five NBA titles with Bryant on the team. He was named the league's Most Valuable Player in 2008 and has been selected the NBA All-Star team 15 times.
He is recovering from a torn Achilles' tendon injury and hasn't played yet this season but in 1,239 NBA regular-season games, Bryant averaged 25.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.8 assists a game. His total of 31,617 points scored is fourth-most in NBA history.
