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It is no secret that NBA players love their wine, and some have even branched out into creating their wine labels away from the court.
In the 2020 NBA bubble in Orlando, it became clear just how popular wine had become in the league, with several players having fridges set up in their rooms for the bottles they had ordered or brought in with them. While some players like to spend their money on cars, homes or other business ventures, others expand their wine collection and bring in bottles from all over the world.
Players such as Carmelo Anthony and JJ Redick have extensive wine cellars and have been at the forefront of the drink's rise in popularity in the NBA. On that note, here's a look at five players who are well-known wine enthusiasts.
#1 Carmelo Anthony
Carmelo Anthony is one of the biggest, if not the biggest, wine enthusiasts in the NBA. He even has his own YouTube show called 'What's in your glass', where he often discusses wine, among other drinks, with his guests.
Back in 2015, on an infamous boat trip alongside LeBron James, Chris Paul and Dwyane Wade, Anthony says, that was when the wine culture in the NBA began. The ten-time All-Star covered the Wine Spectator magazine earlier this year, and has discussed the potential of launching his wine brand.
Anthony has an extensive wine cellar which he custom-built for his Manhatten apartment, and is 500 square feet in size. In a recent interview with the Wine Spectator, he discussed how NBA players have adapted to being on the road during the COVID-19 pandemic:
“I carry my wine, so I make do. I always have a bottle in the bag, especially for an overnight trip. But if I’m on the road for a week, eight or nine days, then I’m packing at least a six-pack. I just grab six bottles out of the cellar, it doesn’t matter. I just want to drink something good.”
#2 CJ McCollum
Possessing cases of his wine label, as well as plenty of other lines, CJ McCollum became the resident sommelier of the bubble last year as select players and staff were given a bottle of McCollum Heritage 91.
When Portland drafted McCollum in 2013, he moved to one of America's great Pinot Noir regions. He had been interested in the drink throughout his time with the franchise, but it wasn't until recently that he was able to partner with Adelsheim, a leading Portland vineyard, to create his label.
The 29-year-old McCollum is, in fact, one of the only NBA players to have their label and recently released a new Rosé, which sold out in hours.
#3 JJ Redick
One of the most lethal 3-point shooters in the NBA, JJ Redick is perhaps less known for his obsession with wine. Like McCollum, Redick wanted to make himself feel as much at home as possible during the NBA bubble last year, ordering in a wine fridge for his room and an 18-bottle shipment from his dealer in New York.
With little else to do in Orlando, Redick would often share a glass or two with friends, including TJ McConnell and Doug McDermott, and discuss all things wine over dinner.
Redick is considered to be one of the most knowledgeable NBA players on wine, and has turned others into wine snobs as well. After the bubble, he was the first of five stars to appear on Acker Wines' virtual tasting series, 'All-Stars Uncorked'.
#4 TJ McConnell
A former teammate of JJ Redick, TJ McConnell, is also a wine aficionado, and regularly discussed the drink with Redick at dinners in the NBA bubble.
Although McConnell was interested in wine before the two became teammates with the Philadelphia 76ers, it was Redick who expanded McConnell's pallet and made him a wine snob, which he revealed in an interview with Scott Agness.
“I try to read a bunch of books on wine. I just find the whole process fascinating — the way it’s made, the weather and everything that goes into it. To the final product, it’s an amazing thing to me.”
Despite initially going to Redick for tips, McConnell's former teammate Doug McDermott now goes to the latter.
The 29-year-old forward frequently sends over pictures to McConnell of restaurants' wine lists so that the latter may recommend what he should drink.
#5 LeBron James
In the NBA's unofficial wine club, few players hold a greater standing than LeBron James. The four-time champion is widely known for his abilities on the court, but over the years, he has also been a key influencer in changing the league's wine culture to appeal to the younger players.
Without a wine label of his own to promote, James has instead been happy to spread his love of certain bottles during his Instagram live videos or in photos shared on social media. However, these are not everyday bottles found in the supermarket. James' favorites usually range from $300-$500, with some costing even more.
When he's not playing, the 36-year-old James has been known to walk into the Staples Center with a wine glass in his hand, and uses the drink to settle bets.
According to DLynn Proctor, a wine expert who appeared in the 2012 documentary Somm and is currently an ambassador for Australia's Penfolds winery, LeBron James has people in his corner who know a lot about the wine industry and who must recommend certain bottles to him.
Guess the Lakers players!
