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Salaries of NBA players have sparked conversations worldwide, as they've continued to go up. Stephen Curry just signed a four-year deal with the Golden State Warriors that will see him earn $53.8 million per year. However, a good amount of NBA players' net worth comes off endorsements.
With most NBA superstars, endorsements make up a large chunk of their earnings. While their salaries are some of the highest in American team sports, there is higher earning potential with endorsements.
Rookie sensation LaMelo Ball inked an NBA rookie deal for $35.5 million that will span four years. But his shoe deal with Puma is worth $100 million, and he has access to the company's private jet.
The caliber of players is a significant determinant of the level of endorsements they receive. That is why some of the biggest names in the NBA right now are on this list.
As per Forbes' January 2021 list, here are the five NBA players who make the most money off endorsements:
#5 Russell Westbrook - $25 million
Russell Westbrook is the fourth highest-paid player in the NBA. He will earn a base salary of $44.2 million for the 2021-22 season. His increased salary accounts for over 60% of his annual earnings.
Although he has trimmed his endorsements in recent years, his $150-200 million 10-year Nike Jordan shoe deal represents the bulk of his endorsement income. Westbrook also has a multi-year deal with PepsiCo, which made him the face of the Mtn Dew Kickstart brand.
Westbrook also endorses major brands like Samsung and True Religion.
Undoubtedly, his arrival at the LA Lakers will open him up to more endorsement opportunities, as brands would love to take advantage of his decision to play for his home city.
#4 Giannis Antetokounmpo - $27 million
Giannis Antetokounmpo is the reigning NBA Finals MVP following his record-breaking performances in the 2021 playoffs. His 5-year $228 million contract extension with the Milwaukee Bucks will see him earn $39 million in the 2021-22 season.
Although he is not the most marketable player, Antetokounmpo has done a decent job securing endorsement deals. Disney is currently working on a documentary on the life of Antetokounmpo, which is scheduled to be released in 2022.
The Greek Freak has endorsement deals with Nike, Budweiser and JBL, as well as Sarantis and Protergia in Greece. His success in the 2020-21 season will undoubtedly open more doors for him in the coming years.
#3 Kevin Durant - $34 million
Kevin Durant's abilities on the floor have also contributed to making him one of the richest active NBA players. However, he has proved himself to be a very shrewd businessman, raking in huge sums through various investments.
Durant is due to earn $40.9 million as base salary during the 2021-22 NBA season. But that will make up only 54% of his total earnings.
That's because, in 2014, Durant signed a ten-year deal with Nike that has seen him earn $26 million per year and includes a retirement package worth $50 million. There are other endorsements in his portfolio, such as Gatorade, Skullcandy, NBA 2k, etc., which have ramped up his endorsement earnings to $34 million.
The 2020-21 NBA season was relatively successful for Durant despite his loss to the eventual champions. His record-breaking run will set him up for more endorsement opportunities in the coming years.
#2 Stephen Curry - $40 million
Stephen Curry is currently the highest-paid NBA player right now. He is due to earn $45.7 million for the 2021-22 season, with his base salary accounting for 52% of his total earnings.
As his salary has increased, there is a high chance his earnings from endorsements might also see an increase. But as things stand now, the NBA's best shooter earns $40 million from endorsements.
Curry is associated with several major brands; the true value of most of his deals are undisclosed, though. One example is his 2015 contract extension with Under Armor, where the details of his new deal were not revealed. However, rumors suggest that the extension includes an equity stake in the company.
Aside from Under Armor, Curry has signed deals with Chase, Nissan Motor, Sony, Unilever and Rakuten, to mention a few.
#1 LeBron James - $64 million
It should come as no surprise to see LeBron James as the No.1 earner off endorsements in the NBA.
James recently hit the $1 billion mark in earnings, becoming the first active athlete in US team sport to achieve that feat. Of his $1 billion, $700 million have come from off-the-court ventures, while the rest have come from salaries.
LeBron James has endorsement deals with major brands like AT&T, Beats by Dre, Nike, Microsoft, PepsiCo, etc. More recently, he partnered with Epic Games to give Fortnite players access to LeBron-themed outfits. In the 2020-21 NBA season, LeBron James' salary accounted for only 32.9% of his total earnings.
