Posted by Rookie:

And after all these posts, there's still nothing about basketball. Very sad, the game has become all about money - contracts and endorsements. I would take Kobe any day of the week over Lebron. Kobe has shown a true respect and love for the history of the game. He is in a completely different class then Lebron, and the King will never get there.

Posted by Rookie:

And after all these posts, there's still nothing about basketball. Very sad, the game has become all about money - contracts and endorsements. I would take Kobe any day of the week over Lebron. Kobe has shown a true respect and love for the history of the game. He is in a completely different class then Lebron, and the King will never get there.

Posted by Vmart:

Posted by Rookie:

And after all these posts, there's still nothing about basketball. Very sad, the game has become all about money - contracts and endorsements. I would take Kobe any day of the week over Lebron. Kobe has shown a true respect and love for the history of the game. He is in a completely different class then Lebron, and the King will never get there.

LeBron is differnet than Kobe. Last night Kobe may have gotten 61 but he was looking to score all game long. He was leaving his man as soon as the Knicks shot to get to the offensive end. Hence the 0 rebounds in the game. LeBron put up a 50, 10 and 8 on the KNicks. Thats as good as the 61 Bryant put up. If not better LeBron had a more all around game.

Posted by GallOfFame:

Posted by martin:

Posted by GallOfFame:

The endorsement myth is just that a myth. Endorsement dollars are dropping. Lebron and major name athletes aren't selling because the economy is down. You don't make up $30mil just by coming to New York plus he can set his contract up to opt in 3yrs again anyway and see where the new CBA is at. There are many major athletes who don't play in major markets and are marketable to a large degree....Peyton Manning being one of them. I bet he still is/was more popular than his brother even after his brother won a chip. Please stop it with this ridiculous notion if numbers aren't actually being presented.

LeBron made an estimated $25M in 2007 through endorsements.

http://blog.cleveland.com/sports/2008/10/king_without_a_crown_james_kno.html

"His Nike shoe and apparel sales have been just average, which means not very good," said Matt Powell, an analyst at SportsOne Source, which tracks sporting goods sales. "It is the same for jersey sales."

The NBA does not release actual numbers, but in its most recent rankings James is just third worldwide in replica jersey sales. In Europe, he ranks fourth. In China -- where James and Nike have focused their efforts with specialized campaigns, including games or promotional tours in each of the past four years -- James ranks fifth. The Celtics' Kevin Garnett and the Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant rank ahead of him in each list.

As was stated on TNT about a month ago endorsements follow winning primarily, not demographics which means if Lebron wins a Chip in Cleveland the dollars will be there or come, regardless, however you want to look at it. Of course if he won a chip in New York vs Cleveland there more than likely would be some popularity distinction in endorsements but not prior to trying to factor it into him signing a Max deal without one.

[Edited by - GallOfFame on 02-03-2009 10:45 AM]

Posted by GallOfFame:

Posted by Bonn1997:


I think the bold part shows just how important geographic location is. You have two comparable (if not inferior) players well ahead of Lebron in jersey sales because they play in much bigger markets.

As stated by not releasing the numbers until you find out what the actual revenue is from like merchandise sales and what the profit margins are, there's no way you can clearly state $30+ mil of contract dollars would be made up in other areas of business and marketing by being in a large market. Like if each replica cost $75.00.... how many are sold at this price tag and what is the profit margin? Plus you're talking about NBA revenue not Nike revenue. Lebron doesn't see jersey sale revenue necessarily per say, at least not right away. I do believe things such as this is factored into the BRI, which helps determine cap figures, which helps determine Max contracts but fans act like $30mil is chump change to make up....it's not. The jersey sales were accounted for at the NBA store in NYC. How many customers actually buy product at the NBA store? Do you think 1mil customers come through there over the course of a yr or even half a mil that actually make purchases?...Kobe and Lebron are already popular hence they are the Top sellers(We can assume New Yorkers are actually making purchases for the popular player from other teams). Do these already popular numbers double, triple, quadruple..........?


If I'm not mistaken doesn't Adidas currently have the licensing agreement with the NBA to produce the apparel?

Posted by King1:

Bosh plays no defense this year and hardly blocks any shots I just wouldnt use max money and I dont think he wants that pressure. He will go to a team that is already good.