James Harden reached an agreement with the Cavaliers to continue with the team for three additional seasons under a $97 million contract. The third season will be a player option after Harden declined a $42 million option in June.
The deal positions Harden as the fourth player to earn the most money in NBA history, with a total of $511 million accumulated throughout his career. Only LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry have surpassed that figure in the United States Professional Basketball League.
At 37, Harden becomes the second player to sign a guaranteed contract worth more than $90 million at that age, a distinction he shares with LeBron James. The agreement would allow the player to extend his career until age 40 if he completes his contract with Cleveland.
Harden is starting his eighteenth season in the NBA. The three-year structure chosen allows the Cavaliers to distribute payments in a way that the team can remain below the salary cap apron during that period.