The Los Angeles Lakers signed LeBron James for way more than just his basketball skills.
Magic Johnson knew that James was a product itself, and his sole presence in Hollywood meant a lot of money.
Notably, the Lakers might be able to ride that way even long after James is done with the NBA.
LeBron has made it clear that he wants to play side by side with his elder son Bronny, who’s still on the verge of making his college decision.
But despite not even having a commitment, the firstborn of the James household is already considered the most valuable young athlete on Earth, at least in terms of NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) deals.
According to On3NIL, Bronny is worth over $7.5 million already, which shouldn’t come as a surprise considering his privileged pool and how much of a business mogul his old man has been over the years.
Bronny James leads @On3NIL’s list of most valuable college athletes’ NIL.
He’s worth over $7.5M 🤯 pic.twitter.com/Eur1yvMT2N
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) January 25, 2023
Bronny has already starred in a Beats by Dre ad with LeBron, and he’s a lock to get a Nike deal after his old man signed one of the largest contracts in the sports apparel industry.
So, with James stating that he’s going to play wherever Bronny is, the Lakers would be wise to make the most of their draft capital to land the young guard once his time comes.
Having the two James on the court at the same time would be a testament to LeBron’s durability, and a massive PR hit for one of the most valuable franchises in the sports industry.
