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Sports Illustrated released their 50 top-earning American athletes (taking into account on- and off-the-field income).
Not surprisingly, Tiger Woods topped the list with $127,902,706 in annual income.
Rounding out the top ten were established superstars Phil Mickelson, LeBron James, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, Alex Rodriguez, Kevin Garnett, Peyton Manning, and Derek Jeter.
The biggest surprise?
Rookie Kevin Durant was 13th on the list. Durant made $4,300,000 from his NBA contract and an estimated $21,650,000 in endorsements.
Tim Duncan, the greatest power forward of all-time and owner of 4 NBA championships was 6 places behind Durant at 19th.
I don’t have a problem with player salaries. The money is there to be had and I’d much rather see it go to the players than the owners.
But what has Kevin Durant done to justify $21,650,000 in endorsement money?
Was it his 42% field goal percentage? His 29% 3-point shooting percentage? Seattle’s 20 regular season wins?
Durant wasn’t even the clear-cut choice for Rookie of the Year.
Many people thought double-double machine Al Horford was just as deserving.
I wonder how much Horford made in endorsements…
June 16th, 2008 at 9:39 pm
I actually have no problems with endorsement money going to athletes who haven’t “justified” it yet. Since endorsements are basically geared towards hype only, Durant makes perfect sense. He’s young, athletic, has had superstar success (in college), and has a lot of endearing personality traits.
As long as his salary doesn’t exceed Tim Duncan’s (at least not if/until KD becomes an all-time legend), the basketball world is alright.
June 16th, 2008 at 11:50 pm
This is very misleading in many different ways. First of all, the only reason Durant is at #13 on this list is because of a $12 million signing bonus from Nike. The actual endorsement is for $7 million-a-year. Which means that after his first full year with Nike is up (in a couple of months), he will drop COMPLETELY OFF THAT LIST and will stay off the list for at least three more seasons.
Second, “Durant Hate” (as I call it) is completely unjustified. Why doesn’t this article mention his 20 ppg and 4 rpg? Before I continue, I would like to post some ROOKIE statistics for 3 other NBA basketball players - Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Carmelo Anthony:
LeBron (2003)- 21 ppg, 5 rpg, 6 apg. 3-point: 63-217 .290 (29%)
Anthony (2003) - 21 ppg, 6 rpg, 3 apg. 3-point: 69-214 .322 (32%)
Jordan (1984) - 3-point stats: 9-52 .173 (17%) (of course his other stats kick ass - I am just making a point…)
and the man in question:
Durant (2007) - 20 ppg, 4 rpg, 2 apg. 3-point: 59-205 .288 (29%)
you are being WAY to hard on Durant. He was asked to lead a team in the middle of chaos (the relocation to OKC) his ROOKIE YEAR. He has no help, unless you think fellow ROOKIE Jeff Green is the answer…or maybe CHRIS WILCOX?!?!? Didn’t think so. Heck, even LeBron had Big Z (and Boozer) his rookie year…and ‘Melo had Camby and Andre Miller. Jordan is amazing, of course - I just HAD to mention his wretched 17% 3-point shooting to help my point. Jordan didn’t actually top Durant’s rookie 3P stats until his 6th year in the league, 89-90 with 36%, up from 28%.
Nike was smart. They paid Durant the BIG endorsement bucks before he played his first game, then they banked on HYPE. the signing bonus is GONE. he will have to earn another one…
June 16th, 2008 at 11:51 pm
Al Horford?? He averaged 10 and 10!!! Big deal!! The ONLY reason Horford has been mentioned in the ROY debate was because his TEAM WAS WINNING GAMES - AND THE HAWKS HAVE BEEN BAD FOREVER! The Rookie of the Year award is NOT the MVP award. Things like winning and improving your teammates do NOT trump individual statistics - instead they are to be used as TIE-BREAKERS!! I repeat - this is NOT the MVP award…
June 17th, 2008 at 12:00 am
oops - I forgot one more very important thing: in no way, shape or FORM do I think Durant will even come close to the 3 players I compared him to…
So far, Durant has been exactly what most thought he would be: a shooting threat, but weak on the boards and a terrible defender. Anyone who actually bought into the hype that he might be a mega-star simply “ate up what was fed to them”.
However, if you pair a versatile, tall shooter like Durant with a superstar like LeBron, Carmelo, Garnett, Kobe, Duncan, CP3, etc…maybe mix in some roll players…BAM, he could be on the track to the Finals… just sayin..
June 17th, 2008 at 8:44 am
King_Kaun,
I realize a large portion of Durant’s income came from the Nike signing bonus. That’s dumb in itself. He’ll never be a true superstar. He isn’t worth the size of his contract with Nike.
I noticed you compared Durant’s #’s to that of LBJ, Melo, and Mike. And yet you left off those guys’ shooting percentages and team win totals? I’d like to see those #’s too.
As for Horford, double-double guys don’t grow on trees. I think his double-doubles were far more impressive than Durant’s scoring average. Kevin’s shooting percentage is proof of that.
June 17th, 2008 at 8:46 am
Erick,
Nine times out of ten, I don’t have a problem with it either.
Guys like Melo, LBJ, and Iverson were clear-cut legends in the making.
I don’t feel that way about Durant’s game.
June 17th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
wow…that was a total accident!! Here Hoffman, I shall GLADLY list the rookie FG% of those 3 guys:
Durant: .430
LeBron: .417
‘Melo: .426
Jordan: .515
OH MY GOD!!! DURANT SHOT A HIGHER FG% THAN JAMES AND MELO!!!!!!!!
You should have checked on that before beckoning it from me in such a manner….OOPS!!!!
and I already touched on Jordan…I ONLY mentioned him for his disgusting 3-point percentage.
I ALSO already touched on the team win totals! I clearly said that LBJ and ‘Melo actually had some team help (Big Z, Boozer; Camby, Andre Miller). As for Jordan - well at least he had Orlando Woolridge, who averaged 22 ppg and 6 rpg.
The only help Durant had was from CHRIS WILCOX (13 ppg)and JEFF GREEN (10 ppg). give me a break…
But were any of those other teams in the middle of a power struggle and imminent relocation to a new city?? Playing in front of a near-empty stadium?? no….
why won’t you consider that as you pound Durant with senseless critiques???
June 17th, 2008 at 2:46 pm
King_Kaun,
“Senseless critiques?”
Lol.
We’ll see where Kevin is compared to Melo or LeBron in a few years. Melo and James are superstars. Durant will always be — at best — a 2nd or 3rd tier player.
He didn’t deserve that signing bonus and he won’t earn another one.
June 17th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
Hoffman…I agree ENTIRELY. Do you even read my posts??? OF COURSE he will never be near LBJ or Melo…just like I SAID!! read!!
Why are you ignoring the FG% and 3PG%??? I demand you respond to these points!
My point is this: you are just another of MANY pundits who bash Durant at every opportunity, and yet, his rookie stats are VERY VERY close to LBJ and ‘Melo. Why weren’t people hounding LBJ for HIS FG% his rookie year?? (it was lower than Durant’s, afterall…)
WHY? Because people KNEW what was coming. Just like now people “know” Durant won’t live up to the hype. It’s probably true…but damn, he deserves respect for what he did THIS SEASON…why judge him for things he hasn’t even done yet???
It just doesn’t make sense. Yes…he will never produce like they have, but why must you ignore his rookie stats?!?!?
I am SIMPLY comparing numbers…
and here are some more:
Al Horford = 5th team option
Kevin Durant = 1st team option
Other NBA players who also averaged (or NEARLY averaged) right around 10 and 10 this season: Samuel Dalembert, Nick Collison, Andrew Bogut, Drew Gooden, Brad Miller, Andris Biedrins, David Lee, Emeka Okafor, Udonis Haslem, Tyson Chandler, Andrew Bynum, and SHAQ!
June 17th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
let’s see if the Sonics can bring in a true scorer to compliment Durant. What if he had someone like Elton Brand to draw double-teams downlow?? Why then he would actually get OPEN instead of having to CREATE HIS OWN SHOT…which he has never been the best at…or what if the Sonics ACTUALLY had anything that resembled a point guard to run the show??
let’s not forget he had D.J. Augustin (about to be a lottery pick) and A.J. Abrams in college…
June 17th, 2008 at 3:03 pm
King_Kaun,
Yes, I’ve read every one of your comments.
What’s the point of comparing LBJ, Melo, and Jordan’s first year statistics to Durant’s when you openly admit he’ll never be that type of player?
What’s the point of suggesting he deserved the signing bonus when you hint that you agree he’ll never earn another one?
How did he deserve the first one then?
Melo and LeBron’s #’s may have been similar but they were infinitely more talented. Thus justifying their endorsement $.
The only critique I have of Durant is that he didn’t deserve his endorsement cash and Al Horford was nearly as deserving as ROY.
June 17th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
because a signing bonus is about HYPE, just like Erick says above…
you are trying to compare apples to oranges…
trust me, Nike is NOT - I repeat NOT - upset they give KD that money…
hype. hype. hype.
20 ppg. 4 rpg.
how does that not live up to it?
June 17th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
also that is the first time you said Horford was NEARLY as deserving…meaning KD did, in fact, deserve ROY
June 17th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
Hoffman says:
What’s the point of comparing LBJ, Melo, and Jordan’s first year statistics to Durant’s when you openly admit he’ll never be that type of player?
well if you are going to ask me that question, then answer this: what is the point of attacking his FG% and 3PG% when they are similar OR BETTER than that of LBJ and Melo (and Jordan, in the case of the 3PG%?)
also - again…your argument merely has too much banked on “what will happen in the future…”
let’s just stick to what DID happen this last season, eh?
June 17th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
the power of hindsight has begun to blind…
June 17th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
King_Kaun,
Signing bonus’ aren’t about “HYPE.” They’re about the promise of future revenue. That revenue will never come to fruition.
Durant will never be worth that type of cash. Partly because he’ll never be good enough to lead his team to anything of worth and partly because he’ll be playing in a small market like Oklahoma City.
Durant won ROY because Oden was injured and their draft class was one of the weakest in NBA history.
June 17th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
King_Kaun,
Lol.
I know you have a man-crush on Durant.
I never compared Durant’s shooting percentages to that of Melo and LeBron because there is no comparison between them as players and there never has been. Carmelo and LeBron James were twice the players Durant was coming into the league. I don’t care what their statistics say.
Melo and Bron were bankable superstars who were clearly deserving of any endorsement $ they received.
Durant DIDN’T deserve his signing bonus before the season began (he wasn’t THAT great in college) and he did NOTHING to prove he deserved it during the regular season.
June 17th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
of the weakest in NBA history?? isnt it WAY WAY WAY too early to be saying that?? Wow…I’m gonna write that one down. That’s almost as funny as you saying Durant will be the next J.J. Reddick and Adam Morrison!!
Weakest in history?? Don’t tell that to Horford, Stuckey, Noah, Scola, AL Thornton, and Juan Carlos Navarro (who outplayed your pre-season ROY selection Mike Conley…)
How is that class not ALREADY better than the 2000 NBA draft (ROY winner Mike Miller…)
http://www.nbadraft.net/2000.htm
its got Michael Redd, Kenyon Martin…and a bunch of under-achievers….
sheesh…you are insatiable!
June 17th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
my only man-crush’s are on Steve Kerr and Dirk…everyone knows that…
now…go back to sucking on Kobe’s toes, as you were…
June 17th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
Hoffman says:
I never compared Durant’s shooting percentages to that of Melo and LeBron because there is no comparison between them as players and there never has been.
then why did you ask me to post their shooting percentages?? The request is clearly listed above in one of your comments??!?
June 17th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
King_Kaun,
You’re obviously incapable of seeing the big picture in this debate. You nitpick this little detail and that little detail to fit your assanine arguments.
My stating: I never compared Durant’s shooting percentages to that of Melo and LeBron because there is no comparison between them as players and there never has been.
Was in response to this: “well if you are going to ask me that question, then answer this: what is the point of attacking his FG% and 3PG% when they are similar OR BETTER than that of LBJ and Melo (and Jordan, in the case of the 3PG%?)”
I didn’t compare Durant and LeBron shooting %’s in THIS BLOG because it wasn’t necessary. You listed their shooting percentages to attempt to justify Durant’s endorsement money based upon his first year averages.
But that’s pointless. Why?
Because endorsement deals aren’t based upon one year of statistics. They’re based upon a player’s potential to bring in revenue throughout their careers. Durant wasn’t good enough to justify that amount of money before he entered the league and he’s done nothing to justify that amount of money in his first season.
LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony were good enough to justify their endorsement deals before they entered the league. They’ve improved every year they’ve been in the league too. Both are first-tier superstars. Durant will never be in their company.
Durant doesn’t have the same potential Melo and LeBron have/had. So comparing their #’s is dumb.
We’ll see how Durant’s draft class stacks up a few years from now. I think it will go down as one of the worst of all-time. I didn’t say it would be THE worst of all-time.
June 17th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
yeah…and again, I started this by saying your argument is weak. Respond to this:
You are outraged that he is number 13 on the list. Yet…after THIS SEASON, he will drop COMPLETELY off the list and almost certainly not ever return to it…so him being number 13 is horribly misleading, yet you ignore that fact.
your entire point is MISLEADING, which is the first thing I said…
…hey, someone has to stand up for Durant. He really could not have done ANY BETTER given the situation he was put in.
you also STILL haven’t responded to the point that the Sonics are in the middle of a power struggle that NO ROOKIE should EVER have to deal with…
and again…Chris Wilcox…
wow…
June 17th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
King_Kaun,
Lol.
Durant being #13 isn’t “horribly misleading.”
It’s FACT.
I don’t care where he’s at next year. He shouldn’t have been on the list this year. He didn’t do anything to deserve a $12 million dollar signing bonus this season.
Period.
Comparing him to James, Melo, and Jordan is ridiculous…on many different levels.
And I don’t care about his situation. He’s not that good. It wouldn’t matter if he was on a team with the kind of talent James and Anthony had in their first years. He’s not as good as they were.
End of story.
June 17th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
its FACT.
just like comparing ROOKIE STATS. they HAPPENED.
without the power of hindsight, you would have no argument here.
End of story
June 17th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
im out -
June 17th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
King_Kaun,
Lol.
Contracts are absolute. They are what they are.
Box score statistics don’t tell the entire story. They aren’t the end-all-be-all barometer when comparing players. That’s why we have scouts. That’s why some players win and some players lose.
Comparing Durant’s statistics to that of Melo, LeBron, and Jordan implies they are similar players and thus are deserving of similar endorsements.
That’s beyond foolish.