Who Is The Richest NBA Player In 2020?
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We take a look at the richest NBA players in 2020 and how they got their wealth.
Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan is the richest NBA player in 2020. He is a retired professional basketball player and entrepreneur. As of 2020, Michael Jordan’s net worth is $2.1 billion. He is the majority owner of the Charlotte Hornets.
His Airness
Michael Jeffrey Jordan (born February 17, 1963), also known by his initials MJ, is an American former professional basketball player and the principal owner of the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played 15 seasons in the NBA, winning six championships with the Chicago Bulls. His biography on the official NBA website states: “By acclamation, Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time.” Jordan was one of the most effectively marketed athletes of his generation and was considered instrumental in popularizing the NBA around the world in the 1980s and 1990s.
Jordan played three seasons for coach Dean Smith at the University of North Carolina. As a freshman, he was a member of the Tar Heels’ national championship team in 1982. Jordan joined the Bulls in 1984 as the third overall draft pick. He quickly emerged as a league star and entertained crowds with his prolific scoring. His leaping ability, demonstrated by performing slam dunks from the free throw line in Slam Dunk Contests, earned him the nicknames Air Jordan and His Airness. He also gained a reputation for being one of the best defensive players in basketball. In 1991, he won his first NBA championship with the Bulls, followed by titles in 1992 and 1993. Though Jordan abruptly retired from basketball before the beginning of other professional seasons to pursue a career as an MLB player (a move that would later be rendered moot when he applied for reinstatement after his agent advised that he had lost too much money to be able to continue playing), as well as a brief stint as owner and head coach of an NBA expansion franchise (the Wizards), he returned to play forthe Bulls in 1995 and led them to three additional championships in 1996, 1997, and 1998, helping secure yet another NBA dynasty.
Jordan retired for a second time in 1999 but returned to play two more seasons with then-Washington Wizards from 2001 to 2003 as part of his final retirement tour. Jordan’s individual accolades and accomplishments include six NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) Awards, ten scoring titles (both all-time records), five MVP Awards, ten All-NBA First Team designations, nine All-Defensive First Team honors, fourteen NBA All-Star Game selections (another all-time record), three All-Star Game MVP Awards, three steals titles (another all-time record), six NBA Championships—winning Finals MVP each time—and an Olympic gold medal. He holds several prominent NBA records including having scored 300 points more than anyone else during an 84-game regular season journey; averaging 30 points per game or more during 10 separate seasons; scoring 40 points or more 149 times; 27 games where opposition scored 100 points or fewer when playing 40 minutes or more—including holding such defensive stoutness over single games (12th on list) despite playing only 910 games while defensively shutting down opponents who played 2176 games total which is second all time; eleven seasons leading league both offensively via total points scored per 48 minutes played plus defensively per 48 minutes played; holding career record for Field Goals Made percentage at 49.7%; 31 times since 1963–64 scoring 20 or more points on 57% or better shooting which is also record sincerules were changed prior allowing 3 pointers; hitting 10 or more free throws without miss 117 times which is second most ever while shooting 83% or better from foul stripe 75 different times which is first ever coming up double digits foul shots without miss; averaging 33 points per game over 13 game playoff series journey which is third highest average behind Jerry West at 35 PPG & Lebron James at 34 PPG while scoring 40+ 7 different times including 50+ point game 4 times—all coming within first 6 post season series journeyed through; owning numerous other statistical accomplishments too many to list here individually but can be found online via various basketball websites & write ups if desired further reading on this Basketball legend from North Carolina!
The G.O.A.T
Michael Jeffrey Jordan (born February 17, 1963), also known by his initials MJ, is an American former professional basketball player and the principal owner of the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played 15 seasons in the NBA, winning six championships with the Chicago Bulls. His biography on the NBA website states: “By acclamation, Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time.” Jordan was one of the most effectively marketed athletes of his generation and was considered instrumental in popularizing the NBA around the world in the 1980s and 1990s.
LeBron James
As of 2020, LeBron James is the richest NBA player with a net worth of $480 million. He is followed by Kevin Durant with a net worth of $170 million. James has earned his fortune through his successful career in the NBA as well as endorsement deals with companies like Nike and Coca-Cola. He is also a minority owner of the Liverpool Football Club.
The King
LeBron James’s net worth and salary have seen a meteoric rise since he entered the NBA straight out of high school in 2003. He is now considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time and has helped secure multiple NBA championships for the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Los Angeles Lakers. In 2020, LeBron James is the richest NBA player with a net worth of $480 million.
James’s massive salary is largely due to the lifetime $1 billion deal he signed with Nike in 2003, which is the biggest endorsement deal for any athlete in history. His other endorsements include McDonald’s, Sprite, Beats by Dre, and Kia. He also has his own production company, SpringHill Entertainment, which has produced multiple television shows and films. In 2018, he signed a four-year contract with the Lakers worth $154 million, making him the highest-paid player in NBA history at that time.
Outside of his basketball earnings, James has also earned millions from his investments. In 2011, he partnered with Maverick Carter, his childhood friend, to launch LRMR Marketing, which is now one of the largest sports marketing agencies in the world. He is also a minority owner of Liverpool FC, one of the most popular soccer clubs in the world. In 2020, James was ranked by Forbes as the third highest-paid celebrity in the world with earnings of $88 million.
The Chosen One
LeBron James is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is widely considered to be one of the greatest basketball players of all time. James has won four NBA championships, four NBA Most Valuable Player Awards, two Olympic gold medals, and an NBA Finals MVP Award. He has also been selected to 14 NBA All-Star teams and has earned All-NBA and All-Defensive team honors.
Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bean Bryant (/ˈkoʊbiː/ KOH-bee; August 23, 1978 – January 26, 2020) was an American professional basketball player. A shooting guard, he spent his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He entered the league directly from high school, and won five NBA championships with the Lakers.
The Black Mamba
Kobe Bryant was an American professional basketball player. He played his entire 20-year career in the National Basketball Association with the Los Angeles Lakers. He was an 18-time All-Star, 15-time member of the All-NBA Team, and 12-time member of the All-Defensive team. He led the NBA in scoring during two seasons, and ranks fourth on both the league’s all-time regular season scoring and all-time postseason scoring lists. He is widely considered one of the greatest players in NBA history.
The Legend
Kobe Bryant was an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was one of the greatest players in Lakers history and will always be remembered as a legend.
Bryant was drafted out of high school by the Charlotte Hornets with the 13th overall pick in the 1996 NBA draft. He was traded to the Lakers on draft night and became one of the most iconic players in franchise history, winning five NBA championships. He was a two-time Finals MVP and a 18-time All-Star. Bryant is fourth on the all-time scoring list with 33,643 points and ranks first in Lakers history in points, games played, three-pointers made, steals, and free throws made.
Bryant’s untimely death in 2020 shocked the world and left an everlasting impact on the city of Los Angeles and basketball community.
Magic Johnson
Magic Johnson is an American former professional basketball player and current president of basketball operations of the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played point guard for the Lakers for 13 seasons. After winning championships in high school and college, Johnson was selected first overall in the 1979 NBA draft by the Lakers. He won a championship and an NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award in his rookie season, and won four more championships with the Lakers during the 1980s. Johnson retired abruptly in 1991 after announcing that he had contracted HIV, but returned to play in the 1992 All-Star Game, winning the All-Star MVP Award. After protests from his fellow players, he retired again for four years, but returned in 1996, at age 36, to play 32 games for the Lakers before retiring for the third and final time.
The Showtime Lakers
Johnson was born in Lansing, Michigan, and raised in Everett, Washington, by his mother, Christine, and father, George. When he was a young child, his family moved to East Lansing, Michigan, where Johnson attended Everett High School. There, Johnson quickly became a star player on the school’s basketball team. He led his team to a state championship his junior year and a 27-1 record his senior year. He was also named Mr. Basketball of Michigan in 1977.
During his high school years, Johnson began to attracted national media attention for his exceptional basketball talents. In 1978, he was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine with the headline “Is This The Next Magic?” In 1979, he accepted a basketball scholarship to play at Michigan State University (MSU).
As a freshman at MSU, Johnson quickly became one of the best players in college basketball. He helped lead the Spartans to the NCAA championship game against Indiana University (IU). In the championship game, Johnson had a spectacular performance, finishing with 24 points (on 12-for-17 shooting), seven assists, and five steals. MSU won the game by a score of 75-64, giving them their first NCAA championship in school history. For his outstanding play during the tournament, Johnson was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four.
The Captain
Magic Johnson was born Earvin Johnson Jr. on August 14, 1959, in Lansing, Michigan. The youngest of 10 children, Johnson grew up in a poor family. His father worked at a General Motors plant and his mother was a school janitor. Despite the family’s humble beginnings, Johnson excelled at basketball from an early age. He attended Everett High School, where he led his team to a state championship in 1977.
Johnson then accepted a scholarship to play at Michigan State University. As a freshman, he helped the Spartans win the NCAA championship in 1979. The following year, Johnson was named NCAA College Basketball Player of the Year. He left Michigan State after two years to pursue a professional career in the NBA.
Johnson was drafted first overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1980 NBA Draft. He quickly became one of the league’s brightest stars, leading the Lakers to victory in the 1980 NBA Finals. The following year, Johnson was named NBA MVP and led the Lakers to another championship. He would go on to win five more NBA titles with the Lakers during his illustrious career.
In 1991, Johnson announced that he had tested positive for HIV and retired from basketball. He returned to the Lakers in 1996 and played 32 games before finally retiring for good. After his playing career ended, Johnson became a successful entrepreneur and philanthropist. In 2010, he was named President of Basketball Operations for the Lakers. He held that position until 2017 when he stepped down due to health reasons.
As of 2020, Magic Johnson is estimated to be worth $600 million dollars, making him one of the richest NBA players in history.
Shaquille O’Neal
Shaquille O’Neal is an American former professional basketball player who is currently the richest NBA player in 2020. He is also a television host, actor, and analyst on the TNT Inside the NBA. As of June 2020, his net worth is estimated to be $400 million.
The Diesel
Shaquille Rashaun O’Neal (/ʃəˈkɪl/ shə-KIL; born March 6, 1972), nicknamed Shaq (/ʃæk/ SHAK), is an American former professional basketball player who is a sports analyst on the television program Inside the NBA. He is widely considered one of the greatest players in NBA history. At 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) tall and 325 pounds (147 kg), he was one of the tallest and heaviest players ever.
The Big Aristotle
Shaquille Rashaun O’Neal, nicknamed Shaq, is an American former professional basketball player who is widely considered one of the greatest players in National Basketball Association (NBA) history. He is listed at 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) tall and weighs 325 pounds (147 kg). O’Neal played for six teams throughout his 19-year NBA career.
During his time at Louisiana State University, O’Neal was a two-time All-American and helped lead the Tigers to the 1991 NCAA Division I National Championship. He was first overall pick in the 1992 NBA draft by the Orlando Magic and went on to win Rookie of the Year honors. After four years with the Magic, O’Neal signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Lakers. He won three consecutive NBA championships with the Lakers from 2000 to 2002 and was named the NBA Finals MVP in all three years. In 2004, he was traded to the Miami Heat and won his fourth NBA championship in 2006. After a one-year stint with the Phoenix Suns, O’Neal rejoined the Heat for two seasons from 2008 to 2010, winning his fifth championship in 2009. He then played for the Boston Celtics from 2010 to 2011. On June 1, 2011, O’Neal announced his retirement from professional basketball via Twitter.
O’Neal has regularly been ranked as one of the heaviest players ever to play in the NBA: he tips the scales at 325 pounds (147 kg) and was listed at 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) tall during his playing days. In December 1992, GQ magazine named him one of its Men of The Year alongside supermodel Cindy Crawford and rap mogul Sean “Puffy” Combs; that same year Shaq appeared on Playboy magazine’s cover as well as being featured inside in a spread entitled “The Year In Sex”. In February 2006, Forbes magazine ranked him first among retired athletes with estimated earnings of $32 million over 12 months; this figure included $17 million from endorsements, $10 million from appearances, such as television cameos, concerts and product placement incentives paid directly by corporations into Shaq’s personal checking account rather than through his agent or attorney – an arrangement known as “pay-for-play”; $5 million came from Sanders Associates Inc., a company he part owns which sells Shaq memorabilia via home shopping channels and online; while approximately $800 thousand was generated by investments such as real estate holdings and stakes in various restaurants including Five Guys Burgers & Fries franchises