LeBron James thinks he doesn't get any credit for taking less money in free agency

LeBron James told ESPN he doesn't think he gets enough credit for taking less than the maximum salary to play in Miami.

In an interview with ESPN about super teams and his opinion on the new CBA, LeBron James said he's had to "sacrifice" on his contracts because of the current NBA rules and salary cap.

"What I do on the floor shows my value. At the end of the day, I don't think my value on the floor can really be compensated for, anyways, because of the (collective bargaining agreement)."

"If you want the truth. If this was baseball, it'd be up, I mean way up there."

James took a pay cut to sign with the Miami Heat in 2010, earning $17.5 million per year. He's tied in 13th place for highest-paid NBA stars, with Kobe Bryant in first place at $27.8 million.

"I have not had a full max deal yet in my career -- that's a story untold," James said.

"I don't get (the credit) for it. That doesn't matter to me; playing the game is what matters to me. Financially, I'll sacrifice for the team. It shows for some of the top guys, it isn't all about money. That's the genuine side of this, it's about winning. I understand that."