Question: What team was the highest paid athlete in North American on before the Lakers?

full_context: Document 1: Highest-paid NBA players by season: Player Salary Team Stephen Curry $34,682,550 Golden State Warriors LeBron James $33,285,709 Cleveland Cavaliers Paul Millsap $31,269,231 Denver Nuggets Gordon Hayward $29,727,900 Boston Celtics Blake Griffin $29,512,900 Los Angeles Clippers Kyle Lowry $28,703,704 Toronto Raptors Russell Westbrook $28,530,608 Oklahoma City Thunder Mike Conley, Jr. $28,530,608 Memphis Grizzlies James Harden $28,299,399 Houston Rockets DeMar DeRozan $27,739,975 Toronto Raptors
Document 2: Forbes' list of the world's highest-paid athletes: Rank Name Sport Nation Total Salary / Winnings Endorsements Cristiano Ronaldo Football Portugal $93 million $58 million $35 million LeBron James Basketball United States $86.2 million $31.2 million $55 million Lionel Messi Football Argentina $80 million $53 million $27 million Roger Federer Tennis Switzerland $64 million $6 million $58 million 5 Kevin Durant Basketball United States $60.6 million $26.6 million $34 million 6 Andrew Luck American football United States $50 million $47 million $3 million 6 Rory McIlroy Golf Northern Ireland $50 million $16 million $34 million 8 Stephen Curry Basketball United States $47.3 million $12.3 million $35 million 9 James Harden Basketball United States $46.6 million $26.6 million $20 million 10 Lewis Hamilton Auto racing England $46 million $38 million $8 million
Document 3: LeBron James: James played high school basketball at St. Vincent -- St. Mary High School in his hometown of Akron, Ohio, where he was highly promoted in the national media as a future NBA superstar. After graduating, he was selected by his home team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, as the first overall pick of the 2003 NBA draft. James led Cleveland to the franchise's first Finals appearance in 2007, ultimately losing to the San Antonio Spurs. In 2010, he left the Cavaliers for the Miami Heat in a highly publicized ESPN special titled The Decision. James spent four seasons with the Heat, reaching the Finals all four years and winning back - to - back championships in 2012 and 2013. In 2013, he led Miami on a 27 - game winning streak, the third longest in league history. Following his final season with the Heat in 2014, James opted out of his contract and returned to the Cavaliers. From 2015 to 2017, he led the Cavaliers to three consecutive Finals, winning his third championship in 2016 to end Cleveland's 52 - year professional sports title drought.
Document 4: Sports Illustrated: Athlete Sport Number of covers Michael Jordan Basketball 50 Muhammad Ali Boxing 40 LeBron James Basketball 25 Tiger Woods Golf 24 Magic Johnson Basketball 23 Kareem Abdul - Jabbar Basketball 22 Tom Brady Football 20
Document 5: Highest-paid NBA players by season: Player Salary Team LeBron James $30,963,450 Cleveland Cavaliers Al Horford $26,540,100 Boston Celtics DeMar DeRozan $26,540,100 Toronto Raptors James Harden $26,540,100 Houston Rockets Kevin Durant $26,540,100 Golden State Warriors Russell Westbrook $26,540,100 Oklahoma City Thunder Mike Conley, Jr. $26,540,100 Memphis Grizzlies Dirk Nowitzki $25,000,000 Dallas Mavericks Carmelo Anthony $24,559,380 New York Knicks Damian Lillard $24,328,425 Portland Trail Blazers
Document 6: LeBron James: LeBron James James with the Cavaliers in October 2017 No. 23 -- Cleveland Cavaliers Position Small forward League NBA (1984 - 12 - 30) December 30, 1984 (age 33) Akron, Ohio Nationality American Listed height 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) Listed weight 250 lb (113 kg) Career information High school St. Vincent -- St. Mary (Akron, Ohio) NBA draft 2003 / Round: 1 / Pick: 1st overall Selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers Playing career 2003 -- present Career history 2003 -- 2010 Cleveland Cavaliers 2010 -- 2014 Miami Heat 2014 -- present Cleveland Cavaliers Career highlights and awards 3 × NBA champion (2012, 2013, 2016) 3 × NBA Finals MVP (2012, 2013, 2016) 4 × NBA Most Valuable Player (2009, 2010, 2012, 2013) 14 × NBA All - Star (2005 -- 2018) 3 × NBA All - Star Game MVP (2006, 2008, 2018) 12 × All - NBA First Team (2006, 2008 -- 2018) 2 × All - NBA Second Team (2005, 2007) 5 × NBA All - Defensive First Team (2009 -- 2013) NBA All - Defensive Second Team (2014) NBA Rookie of the Year (2004) NBA scoring champion (2008) J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award (2017) 2 × AP Athlete of the Year (2013, 2016) 2 × Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year (2012, 2016) USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year (2012) 2 × Mr. Basketball USA (2002, 2003) Naismith Prep Player of the Year (2003) McDonald's All - American Game MVP (2003) 3 × Ohio Mr. Basketball (2001 -- 2003) Stats at NBA.com Stats at Basketball-Reference.com Medals (hide) Men's basketball Representing the United States Olympic Games 2008 Beijing Team 2012 London Team 2004 Athens Team FIBA World Championship 2006 Japan FIBA Americas Championship 2007 Las Vegas
Document 7: LeBron James: LeBron James James with the Cavaliers in 2017 No. 23 -- Los Angeles Lakers Position Small forward / Shooting guard League NBA (1984 - 12 - 30) December 30, 1984 (age 33) Akron, Ohio Nationality American Listed height 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) Listed weight 250 lb (113 kg) Career information High school St. Vincent -- St. Mary (Akron, Ohio) NBA draft 2003 / Round: 1 / Pick: 1st overall Selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers Playing career 2003 -- present Career history 2003 -- 2010 Cleveland Cavaliers 2010 -- 2014 Miami Heat 2014 -- 2018 Cleveland Cavaliers 2018 -- present Los Angeles Lakers Career highlights and awards 3 × NBA champion (2012, 2013, 2016) 3 × NBA Finals MVP (2012, 2013, 2016) 4 × NBA Most Valuable Player (2009, 2010, 2012, 2013) 14 × NBA All - Star (2005 -- 2018) 3 × NBA All - Star Game MVP (2006, 2008, 2018) 12 × All - NBA First Team (2006, 2008 -- 2018) 2 × All - NBA Second Team (2005, 2007) 5 × NBA All - Defensive First Team (2009 -- 2013) NBA All - Defensive Second Team (2014) NBA Rookie of the Year (2004) NBA scoring champion (2008) J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award (2017) 2 × AP Athlete of the Year (2013, 2016) 2 × Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year (2012, 2016) USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year (2012) 2 × Mr. Basketball USA (2002, 2003) Naismith Prep Player of the Year (2003) McDonald's All - American Game MVP (2003) 3 × Ohio Mr. Basketball (2001 -- 2003) Stats at NBA.com Stats at Basketball-Reference.com Medals (hide) Men's basketball Representing the United States Olympic Games 2008 Beijing Team 2012 London Team 2004 Athens Team FIBA World Championship 2006 Japan FIBA Americas Championship 2007 Las Vegas
Document 8: Highest-paid NBA players by season: Player Salary Team LeBron James $30,963,450 Cleveland Cavaliers Al Horford $26,540,100 Boston Celtics DeMar DeRozan $26,540,100 Toronto Raptors James Harden $26,540,100 Houston Rockets Kevin Durant $26,540,100 Golden State Warriors Russell Westbrook $26,540,100 Oklahoma City Thunder Mike Conley Jr. $26,540,100 Memphis Grizzlies Dirk Nowitzki $25,000,000 Dallas Mavericks Carmelo Anthony $24,559,380 New York Knicks Damian Lillard $24,328,425 Portland Trail Blazers
Document 9: Kobe Bryant: Kobe Bryant Bryant with the Lakers in 2015 (1978 - 08 - 23) August 23, 1978 (age 40) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Nationality American Listed height 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) Listed weight 212 lb (96 kg) Career information High school Lower Merion (Ardmore, Pennsylvania) NBA draft 1996 / Round: 1 / Pick: 13th overall Selected by the Charlotte Hornets Playing career 1996 -- 2016 Position Shooting guard Number 8, 24 Career history 1996 -- 2016 Los Angeles Lakers Career highlights and awards 5 × NBA champion (2000 -- 2002, 2009, 2010) 2 × NBA Finals MVP (2009, 2010) NBA Most Valuable Player (2008) 18 × NBA All - Star (1998, 2000 -- 2016) 4 × NBA All - Star Game MVP (2002, 2007, 2009, 2011) 11 × All - NBA First Team (2002 -- 2004, 2006 -- 2013) 2 × All - NBA Second Team (2000, 2001) 2 × All - NBA Third Team (1999, 2005) 9 × NBA All - Defensive First Team (2000, 2003, 2004, 2006 -- 2011) 3 × NBA All - Defensive Second Team (2001, 2002, 2012) 2 × NBA scoring champion (2006, 2007) NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion (1997) NBA All - Rookie Second Team (1997) Naismith Prep Player of the Year (1996) Nos. 8 & 24 retired by Los Angeles Lakers Career statistics Points 33,643 (25.0 ppg) Rebounds 7,047 (5.2 rpg) Assists 6,306 (4.7 apg) Stats at Basketball-Reference.com Medals (hide) Men's basketball Representing United States Olympic Games 2008 Beijing Team 2012 London Team FIBA Americas Championship 2007 Las Vegas Team
Document 10: Highest-paid NBA players by season: Player Salary Team Stephen Curry $34,682,550 Golden State Warriors LeBron James $33,285,709 Cleveland Cavaliers Paul Millsap $30,769,231 Denver Nuggets Gordon Hayward $29,727,900 Boston Celtics Blake Griffin $29,512,900 Los Angeles Clippers / Detroit Pistons Kyle Lowry $28,903,704 Toronto Raptors Mike Conley Jr. $28,530,608 Memphis Grizzlies Russell Westbrook $28,299,399 Oklahoma City Thunder James Harden $28,299,399 Houston Rockets DeMar DeRozan $27,739,975 Toronto Raptors
Document 11: LeBron James: Many basketball analysts, coaches, fans, and current and former players consider James to be one of the greatest players of all - time, often ranking him as the best small forward and in the top five overall. He has earned All - NBA honors every season since his sophomore year, All - Defensive honors every season from 2009 to 2014, and was named Rookie of the Year in his debut season. With four MVP awards, he is part of a select group of players who have won the award four times, including Kareem Abdul - Jabbar, Jordan, Wilt Chamberlain, and Bill Russell; James and Russell are the only two players who have won four MVP awards in a five - year span. While James has never won the Defensive Player of the Year Award, he has finished second in the voting twice and lists it as one of his main goals. James has appeared in the Finals eight times and won three championships. Some analysts have criticized him for not having a better Finals record, while others have defended him, arguing that James usually performed well but was defeated by superior competition.
Document 12: LeBron James: Many basketball analysts, coaches, fans, and current and former players consider James to be one of the greatest players of all - time, often ranking him as the best small forward and in the top five overall. He has earned All - NBA honors every season since his sophomore year, All - Defensive honors every season from 2009 to 2014, and was named Rookie of the Year in his debut season. With four MVP awards, he is part of a select group of players who have won the award four times, including Kareem Abdul - Jabbar, Jordan, Wilt Chamberlain, and Bill Russell; James and Russell are the only two players who have won four MVP awards in a five - year span. While James has never won the Defensive Player of the Year Award, he has finished second in the voting twice and lists it as one of his main goals. James has appeared in the Finals eight times and won three championships. Some analysts have criticized him for not having a better Finals record, while others have defended him, arguing that his supporting casts were usually poor and, despite the fact that James had played well, his team was defeated by superior competition.
Document 13: Forbes' list of the world's highest-paid athletes: Rank Name Sport Nation Total Salary / Winnings Endorsements Cristiano Ronaldo Association football Portugal $93 million $58 million $35 million LeBron James Basketball United States $86.2 million $31.2 million $55 million Lionel Messi Association football Argentina $80 million $53 million $27 million Roger Federer Tennis Switzerland $64 million $6 million $58 million 5 Kevin Durant Basketball United States $60.6 million $26.6 million $34 million 6 Andrew Luck American football United States $50 million $47 million $3 million 6 Rory McIlroy Golf Northern Ireland $50 million $16 million $34 million 8 Stephen Curry Basketball United States $47.3 million $12.3 million $35 million 9 James Harden Basketball United States $46.6 million $26.6 million $20 million 10 Lewis Hamilton Auto racing England $46 million $38 million $8 million
Document 14: LeBron James: LeBron James James with the Cavaliers in 2017 No. 23 -- Cleveland Cavaliers Position Small forward League NBA (1984 - 12 - 30) December 30, 1984 (age 33) Akron, Ohio Nationality American Listed height 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) Listed weight 250 lb (113 kg) Career information High school St. Vincent -- St. Mary (Akron, Ohio) NBA draft 2003 / Round: 1 / Pick: 1st overall Selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers Playing career 2003 -- present Career history 2003 -- 2010 Cleveland Cavaliers 2010 -- 2014 Miami Heat 2014 -- present Cleveland Cavaliers Career highlights and awards 3 × NBA champion (2012, 2013, 2016) 3 × NBA Finals MVP (2012, 2013, 2016) 4 × NBA Most Valuable Player (2009, 2010, 2012, 2013) 14 × NBA All - Star (2005 -- 2018) 3 × NBA All - Star Game MVP (2006, 2008, 2018) 11 × All - NBA First Team (2006, 2008 -- 2017) 2 × All - NBA Second Team (2005, 2007) 5 × NBA All - Defensive First Team (2009 -- 2013) NBA All - Defensive Second Team (2014) NBA Rookie of the Year (2004) NBA All - Rookie First Team (2004) NBA scoring champion (2008) J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award (2017) 2 × AP Athlete of the Year (2013, 2016) 2 × Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year (2012, 2016) USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year (2012) 2 × Mr. Basketball USA (2002, 2003) Naismith Prep Player of the Year (2003) McDonald's All - American Game MVP (2003) 3 × Ohio Mr. Basketball (2001 -- 2003) Stats at NBA.com Stats at Basketball-Reference.com Medals (hide) Men's basketball Representing the United States Olympic Games 2008 Beijing Team 2012 London Team 2004 Athens Team FIBA World Championship 2006 Japan FIBA Americas Championship 2007 Las Vegas
Document 15: Highest-paid NBA players by season: 2018 -- 2019 Player Salary Team Stephen Curry $37,457,154 Golden State Warriors Russell Westbrook $35,665,000 Oklahoma City Thunder Chris Paul $35,654,150 Houston Rockets LeBron James $35,654,150 Los Angeles Lakers Blake Griffin $31,873,932 Detroit Pistons Gordon Hayward $31,214,295 Boston Celtics Kyle Lowry $31,000,000 Toronto Raptors James Harden $30,570,000 Houston Rockets Paul George $30,560,700 Oklahoma City Thunder Mike Conley Jr. $30,521,115 Memphis Grizzlies 2017 -- 2018 Player Salary Team Stephen Curry $34,682,550 Golden State Warriors LeBron James $33,285,709 Cleveland Cavaliers Paul Millsap $30,769,231 Denver Nuggets Gordon Hayward $29,727,900 Boston Celtics Blake Griffin $29,512,900 Los Angeles Clippers / Detroit Pistons Kyle Lowry $28,903,704 Toronto Raptors Mike Conley Jr. $28,530,608 Memphis Grizzlies Russell Westbrook $28,299,399 Oklahoma City Thunder James Harden $28,299,399 Houston Rockets DeMar DeRozan $27,739,975 Toronto Raptors
ground_truth: Cleveland Cavaliers
sub_queries: who is the highest paid athlete in north america Answer: LeBron James
what team was LeBron James on before lakers Answer: Cleveland Cavaliers