In the NBA currently, LeBron James from the Lakers is the richest player. Not only does James have a massive contract, but due to his endorsements and other investments, he has a net worth of a billion dollars. He has even signed a lifetime deal with Nike of $1 billion. Due to this James’ kids are born with a golden spoon, which was not the case with LeBron.
LeBron James has 3 children, Bronny, Bryce, and Zhuri. Out of them, Bronny and Bryce have both entered the game of basketball. And due to their father being such a big global sensation, they have the opportunities other people don’t. So at the age of 18, the contract Bronny received is massive.
Bronny James Jr., the son of LeBron James, is a rising star in high school basketball in the US. With LeBron James as a mentor, Bronny inherits a lot of valuable insights. He has signed with USC, but the contract system in college basketball is a little different. The concept of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals has transformed college and high school sports, allowing athletes to secure endorsements before turning professional.
Bronny, at just 18 years of age has been at the forefront of this transformation. He has secured partnerships with Nike and Beats By Dre, resulting in substantial wealth. He has secured lucrative NIL deals worth $6.1 million, showcasing his potential and the allure of his last name. By adding 15 points and adding four assists, during the McDonald’s All-American game, Bronny proved that he is not only a star kid but also can ball.
But recently, Bronny suffered a cardiac arrest on the court. He was immediately rushed to the hospital, and the doctors had to perform surgery on him. And now after medications and surgery, Bronny is fit and fine. Although, because of this, he cannot play at the moment, but is getting paid through his endorsement deals.
LeBron’s earnings when he was 18-years-old
LeBron James was the first pick in the 2003 draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers. Following his selection, James signed a four-year entry-level deal for $18.78 million. He earned $4.69 million each year on average. And that time he had received an opportunity from Reebok to sign a deal worth $100 million. They made an initial offer to James with a cashier’s check of $10 million. This was a down payment for their deal, which was estimated to be around $100 million; although they made an error by saying that ‘he would receive a bonus only if he signed with them’.
James declined the offer, thinking he would land better offers in the future. And that’s when Nike offered him a 7-year contract worth $90 million dollars, which he accepted.
LeBron earned a significant amount of wealth all because of his sheer hard work and dedication to the sport. Whereas Bronny, on the other hand, had the massive advantage of being the son of a global icon. Due to this, he had opportunities to fall in his lap. So between the comparison of Bronny and the 18-year-old LeBron James, LeBron earned more money than Bronny.
Source: www.essentiallysports.com
