Killing two birds with one stone is not going to happen in the case of NBA players. The glamorous life these athletes showcase comes at a cost. Commonly known as the “jock tax, ” this levies a significant amount from pro athletes and visiting entertainers. Initially started as revenge, it soon became a steady source of income for the state.
The idea behind the “jock tax” dates back to the 1960s, but it was only during the Jordan era that it made a solid stand. Of course, leave it to Jordan to make historical changes. Aside from a handful of states like Tennessee, Nevada, Texas, Washington, and Florida, most of the others charge this tax. So, how does Giannis rope into all of this?
Giannis Antetokounmpo and the “Jock Tax”
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The Greek Freak is either negligent when it comes to accounts or he was just doing one of his freaky things. Either way, Giannis’s antics overshadowed Anthony Davis’ 3-year $186 million contract news. Andrew Petcash broke down Davis‘ earnings after news of his record-breaking NBA contract.
It might look, swim, and quack like a duck, but the lucrative contract does not guarantee the entire $186 million to the player. Let’s take a refresher course with Petcash’s tweet.
Anthony Davis just signed the NBA’s richest annual extension (3 years $186 million).
And the 𝘵𝘢𝘹𝘦𝘴 will be steep playing in LA: 🥴
$62M: Salary
–
$22.9M: Federal Tax
$6M: NBA Escrow
$4.1M: Cali Tax
$1.8M: Agent Fee
$1.8M: Jock Tax
$1.4M: FICA/Medicare
=
$24M: Net Income pic.twitter.com/JhjrGjNWhC— Andrew Petcash (@AndrewPetcash) August 5, 2023
So much for the richest annual extension. But we digress. Let’s move on to the Greek Freak’s response to this.
Who the hell is FICA and Jock can they hoop? https://t.co/2p72jRkpND
— Giannis Antetokounmpo (@Giannis_An34) August 5, 2023
Well, Antetokounmpo looks like he needs to sit down with his accountants and managers and have a serious talk with them. Giannis can joke all he wants, but the Greek Bucks star also pays hefty taxes on his huge earnings. Yes, the jock tax is included.
When the “Jock Tax” gets one over Giannis
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It is easy to get starry-eyed watching the glitz and glam from the sidelines. It’s another thing to be on the receiving end of the star-studded lifestyle. One headache that comes with being a high-earning citizen is the taxes they have to pay back to the government. Giannis Antetokounmpo is no exception.
Last year alone, after federal taxes, FICA, and a whole bunch of others, his take-home salary was $22,566,310 million. This was when his salary was $42,492,492 million. With him also signing the $186 million contract with the Bucks this season, about $2 million easily vanishes right in front of his eyes. Unfortunately for the Bucks star, his home state, Wisconsin, is also part of the Jock Tax.
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So his earlier comment about FICA and Jock Tax might have been him getting antsy about his future jackpot or he was simply indignant with the whole situation. Whatever his reasons, Giannis surely knows who FICA and Jock Tax are now. But do you think levying such hefty amounts from players is right? Let us know.