Earning $30 Million Annually From Nike, LeBron James Now Joins Elite List to Get a Building Named After Him

LeBron James is arguably one of the best players ever. Many fans around the world consider him to be on par with NBA great Michael Jordan. The Chicago Bulls legend was not just influential on the hardwood, but he was also a trail blazer in terms of his prowess in the field of commerce. In fact, Jordan became the first ever athlete to secure the title of a billionaire. Recently, James became the first ever active player to be regarded as a billionaire. Now, the Los Angeles Lakers superstar has again emulated MJ in this elite accomplishment.

When it comes to sports apparel giants Nike, Jordan is the superstar who propelled them to enormous heights. And helped them earn their fortune with his popularity and dominance on the court. MJ and Nike also changed the sneaker culture in the country with their iconic ‘Air Jordan’ collection. On the other hand, Jordan earned a lot from his lifetime contract with the brand as well.

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As per reports, Nike earns $2.6 to 3 Billion per year in sales from the Jordan brand alone and Jordan makes $130 to 150 million per year. Like the Bulls legend, James has a lifetime contract with Nike and earns $30 million per year according to reports.

The grand opening of LeBron James Innovation Center

Now, LeBron James has successfully made another stride in his relationship with Nike. The 4-time NBA champion finally opened the “LeBron James Innovation Center” on Nike’s campus in Beaverton, Oregon. The 750,000-square-foot building has been in development for years. With this, James has joined an elite list of athletes who have their names adorning buildings on the Nike campus. The list includes sporting greats like Jordan, Tiger Woods, Pete Sampras, and Serena Williams, among others.

In the opening ceremony, James could be seen popping open a champagne bottle surrounded by Nike executives. The newly opened center will be dedicated to research and experiments on new products.

Ever since James became an icon in high school, he has instigated expectations to emulate Michael Jordan. Furthermore, he was also dubbed the ‘Chosen One’ by the media. However, he did not succumb under the enormous pressure of emulating a legend. Instead, he chose to wear it like a badge of honor.

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The Cleveland Cavaliers selected him as the #1 pick in the 2003 NBA draft. And James has never looked back. He dominated the league straight out of high school and won the Rookie of the Year award. He then continued his development over the years and became one of the best players in the league.