Philadelphia, Nov 12:
NBA superstar LeBron James is projected to earn $88.9 million during the 2026–27 season—the fourth-highest total income in the league—despite taking a massive pay cut to sign a veteran-minimum contract worth approximately $3.9 million with the Philadelphia 76ers.
According to business valuations compiled by Sportico, nearly $85 million of James’s annual earnings will flow from off-court endorsements, royalties, media ventures, and memorabilia, far outweighing his playing salary, which dropped from the $52.6 million he earned with the Los Angeles Lakers last season and ranks around 289th in the NBA. His revamped sponsorship portfolio features partnerships with Louis Vuitton, Mercedes-Benz, Polymarket, and Whoop.
Alongside his playing duties in Philadelphia, James and longtime business partner Maverick Carter—through their family office LRMR Ventures—have joined Kevin Durant and Derrick Rose as founding investors in the Futures Basketball League, a new competition for top under-18 players scheduled to launch in April 2027.