MJ still making more in endorsements than any active player

[Andrew]

Economist: Michael Jordan makes more annually in endorsements than any current NBA player

An expert in sports economics says Michael Jordan’s endorsement income has grown and still eclipses that of current NBA players, including LeBron James.

He says Jordan’s endorsement income was $75.5 million in 2012.

Here are the NBA’s top endorsers in the last year, according to Forbes:

1. LeBron James – $44 million

2. Kevin Durant – $35 million

3. Kobe Bryant – $26 million

Just in case anyone was wondering why he's still appearing on special edition covers of NBA 2K16, twelve years after he hung up his Air Jordans. The man moves merchandise like no one else in the history of the sport. That obviously doesn't factor into any "Greatest of All-Time" debates, which will never be settled anyway, but from a cultural and financial point of view, it's amazing how he's stayed relevant and big moneymaker long after he's retired.

[mp3]

He is the greatest player I have ever seen play, and clearly the richest too but.... He will always be remembered for drafting Kwame Brown 1st overall... oh and he won a few rings

[Andrew]

Not to defend that pick as a great selection or anything, but that was the trend, picking up high school players. Darius Miles had gone third overall the year before, it was only a matter of time before someone took a high school player with supposedly huge potential number one overall. Unfortunately for MJ, he was the one to take that gamble, and it did not pay off at all.

Of course, he then went the other way with the Bobcats years later, taking a distinguished college player (with three years of NCAA basketball under his belt) in Adam Morrison, at the time touted as a top prospect. That didn't work out so well either. Potential isn't always realised, as teams often discover the hard way.

[Andrew]

Here's a way for LeBron to catch up:

Want to pay LeBron James to tweet out your product?

Expect to pay at about $140,000 and even then, the Cleveland Cavaliers forward is not likely to say yes.

Opendorse, a company that specializes in executing and monetizing digital and social media campaigns for athletes, says a tweet from James, who has 23.2 million followers, has the highest value of any U.S. athlete. Each tweet from James has a media value of $139,474, the company said.

[mp3]

Not to defend that pick as a great selection or anything, but that was the trend, picking up high school players. Darius Miles had gone third overall the year before, it was only a matter of time before someone took a high school player with supposedly huge potential number one overall. Unfortunately for MJ, he was the one to take that gamble, and it did not pay off at all.

Of course, he then went the other way with the Bobcats years later, taking a distinguished college player (with three years of NCAA basketball under his belt) in Adam Morrison, at the time touted as a top prospect. That didn't work out so well either. Potential isn't always realised, as teams often discover the hard way.

There is very little i can knock Jordan on apart other than drafting, i feel Jordan stopped the knicks from winning a ring many many times

Your right Andrew back then every team was looking for the next Kobe or KG so yeah someone had to pick a bust out of all the high schoolers and to be fair Adam Morrison like Jimmer and JJ Redick looked like very solid picks coming out of college.

[Andrew]

Speaking of the Adam Morrison pick, it's supposedly led to a rift between MJ and Charles Barkley, whose friendship has apparently cooled due to Sir Charles' criticism of that pick. Barkley maintains that he always knew Morrison would be a bust, and advised MJ against selecting him. He may well have said something at the time - it's not like we can prove it one way or the other - but it is a lot easier to say in hindsight.

Interestingly, Barkley suggests that the Bobcats should've taken Brandon Roy instead. Now, Roy would've been a much better pick than Morrison, but with the benefit of hindsight once again, it wouldn't have panned out all that well in the long run. The Bobcats, and now Hornets, would probably still be trying to rebuild in the wake of losing Roy to injury, had they selected him. The Blazers only got three, arguably four good to really good years out of him, and only two of those were relatively injury-free. After that brief comeback with the Timberwolves, he retired again, having spent six seasons in the league, with a total of 326 games played (and another 15 in the postseason).

Looking back at that 2006 Draft, the only players that have really panned out and enjoyed longevity in the league are LaMarcus Aldridge (taken second, so he was off the table), Rajon Rondo, Kyle Lowry, and Paul Millsap. There are some noteworthy role players from that class, but those players are the only ones who have become All-Stars and are still around. Roy is obviously the fifth player from that class to make an All-Star team, and he was also All-NBA, but he obviously didn't last whereas the others have.

[mp3]

Like i said Morrison looked to be a solid pick at the time just like the Nets when they drafted Ed O'Bannon.

I didnt know that about Barkley and MJ but i am not surprised that they could lock heads on something like that its probably not the first time that ex players in front office have had unwanted input from other ex teammates or players.

[air gordon]

It's inevitable MJ will start endorsing eyeglasses. He is using readers now...

Jordan the player and Jordan the gm. Don't confuse one for the other

[NovU]

It's crazy how well MJ built his brand. Nearly 2 decades later from the retirement (I don't count WAS years) he still earns more than LBJ + Kobe combined together. lol

[benji]

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/13486 ... n-use-name

The owner of a supermarket chain must pay Michael Jordan $8.9 million for using his name and promoting a product in an ad without his permission.

A jury deliberated for six hours before handing down the verdict Friday night in federal court in Chicago, where Jordan won six NBA titles with the Bulls.

Lawyers for Safeway, owner of now-defunct Chicago-based chain Dominick's, said Jordan should be paid $126,900 for the use of his name in a 2009 ad Dominick's placed in a commemorative issue Sports Illustrated published for Jordan's induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. But Jordan's lawyers and Jordan himself testified that his endorsement history suggests he would not have taken that deal.

Jordan's legal representatives brought in sports economist Andrew Zimbalist, who testified that Jordan's fair market value for the ad was $10 million.

"I'm pleased with today's verdict," Jordan said in a statement. "No one -- whether or not they're a public figure -- should have to worry about their identity being used without their permission. The case was not about the money as I plan to donate the proceeds to charity. It was about honesty and integrity. I hope this case sends a clear message, both here in the United States and around the world, that I will continue to be vigilant about protecting my name and identity. I also hope the size of the monetary reward will deter others from using someone else's identity and believe they will only pay a small penalty."

In calculating the amount owed to Jordan, jurors sent a note to the judge, saying: "We need a calculator."

During the trial, Jordan's legal team disclosed for the first time some of his endorsement income, including $480 million that was paid to him by Nike from 2000 to 2012. Jordan also revealed he turned down an $80 million offer to endorse headphones.

In addition, the ad itself was of little benefit to the company. Since the ad was in a commemorative Sports Illustrated issue, those who bought the magazine were hesitant to tear out the ad. Only two people were found to have redeemed the $2 steak coupon.

Jordan hugged his lawyers after the decision was read.

"I'm so used to playing on a different court," a visibly delighted Jordan told reporters outside the courthouse.

Stepping back into the courthouse, two jurors asked him for a photograph, and he obliged by throwing his arms around them and smiling for a cellphone camera.

Jordan's fame loomed over the case, with one would-be juror struck from the pool during jury selection after describing Jordan as his idol. During closings earlier Friday, Jordan attorney Frederick Sperling appealed to city pride in trying to persuade jurors to side with Jordan.

"He gave us six championships," he told jurors, Jordan sitting nearby.

[mp3]

And he just makes another 9 million in court for a company using his name without consent....

[Stress Fracture]

And he just makes another 9 million in court for a company using his name without consent....

He said he'll give the money to charity.

[mp3]

Good on him.

He doesn't need anymore money than he is already is making

[Andrew]

I guess he doesn't, but he is of course entitled to protect his brand and seek reparations if it or his likeness is used without permission.

It's a little like Disney suing those day care centres back in the 80s for having unauthorised murals featuring Disney characters on their walls. It comes across as petty, a big corporation picking on the little guy, but they had a point: it was their intellectual property, it implied an agreement or endorsement that didn't exist, and it wasn't fair to companies that had paid money to be Disney licensees. Of course, the spokesperson making statements on their behalf was pretty callous and blunt, in a way that would never fly in the social media age, but they were in the right nevertheless.

[Retroswald13]

I think that they key point here is not just the his endorsements but how he does manage it. Most athletes go broke within 5 years of their retirement. Even if you're making eight digits, if you do not have the control, then you'll be broke in no time.

[Andrew]

True, he's obviously made good decisions, listened to good advice, and had advisers that he can trust. More than a couple of former athletes have been caught out on that last one, being taken advantage of by people who just wanted to make money off them, not help them. Of course, it does help when you've made a lot of money throughout your career, and have become popular enough to still have new shoes coming out long after you're retired.