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Michael Jordan’s 2016 Shoe Earnings Was Greater Than LeBron, Durant, and Kobe Combined

Posted byBy Kiersten Willis | Published on: CommentsComments (0)

Michael Jordan (left) can thank his Air Jordan for his huge Nike sales over LeBron James. (Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

Although LeBron James’ Cleveland Cavaliers lost the 2017 NBA Finals, the small forward can take solace in knowing he brought in the most moolah among current ballers with a shoe deal.

The only thing is, he’s nowhere close to retired Chicago Bulls shooting guard Michael Jordan’s earnings.

James’ Nike deal brought in $32 million in the last year, Forbes estimates. His endorsement began when he entered the NBA in 2003, which had an eventual $100 million payout over seven years — the biggest shoe deal to be given to a rookie.

Yet Jordan’s $110 million earnings, thanks to Air Jordan revenues reaching $2.8 billion in the 2016 fiscal year, makes James’ $32 million look paltry. A combination of payouts from current top-earning NBA players — Kevin Durant’s $25 million from Nike, James Harden’s $14 million with Adidas, Stephen Curry’s $12 million with Under Armour, Derrick Rose’s $11 million with Adidas and James’ income — doesn’t break the $100 million mark.

Such high earnings make LaVar Ball’s push for his basketball-playing sons to go their own way with the Big Baller Brand even more significant, as Uproxx reported James and Durant make almost equal amounts from playing ball as they do from shoe deals. Ball’s three sons have yet to enter the NBA, although Lonzo Ball is considered a top prospect for the draft.

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