In the modern era, it takes one guaranteed contract for an NBA player to become a millionaire. The amounts keep incrementing as a new superstar signs the supermax. Yet, becoming a billionaire in the league is a prestigious accolade only achieved by 2 pioneers so far – MJ and LeBron James. It took them decades of basketball, profitable endorsements, and entrepreneurial inventions to be among the wealthiest. But the super-tall Spurs rookie, Victor Wembanyama, could be on his way to crossing this hallowed mark soon.
The idea was vividly discussed by Gilbert Arenas on his show, Gil’s Arena. Arenas feels that Wemby will soon be setting a new peak with his career earnings, faster than Bron ever could. “Wemby’s gonna be a billionaire while he’s playing. Faster than LeBron was and then the generation after that. I’m not even talking about off the court. I’m talking about on the court. On the court, he is going to hit a billion,” said Agent Zero. He also believes any player who enters the league from this point on could be in the same stratosphere in terms of contract earnings.
“Wemby’s gonna be a BILLIONAIRE while he’s playing. Faster than LeBron was and then the generation after that…”
Gil on Victor Wembanyama’s future💰bag pic.twitter.com/0rsEHxC1S6
— Gilbert Arenas (@GilsArenaShow) May 30, 2024
Arenas’ comments may sound ambitious, but we also need to consider that this might not be impossible. There’s currently no player in the history of the NBA who has earned $1 billion with just their contract. Only Bron has come close with his $479 million figure across his career. Wemby, selected as the undisputed #1 pick, got the highest rookie deal by the Spurs that anyone could under the league’s labor agreement so far. Currently, his contract is worth $55 million for the first 4 years. Some calculations were made, and the figures after his rookie deal are nothing short of dumbfounding.
If Victor Wembnayama signs a rookie max contract with the Spurs, he will be eligible to be paid $316 million over five years. A supermax extension could pay him $529 million in that same duration. That’s $900 million in a matter of 14 years when the French freak will only be 33 years old. Even if he were to sign conservative contracts from then on, Victor Wembanyama becoming the first player billionaire seems inevitable.
Plus, considering the rise in NBA viewership and media rights, as well as Wemby’s popularity that’s bound to increase in the coming years, his numbers are only projected to go upwards from here. If it’s a second supermax, the 20-year-old will be eligible to earn a lavish $760 million, crossing the billion mark in the first year of such a contract.
Right now, with his partnership with Nike, Wemby already has made well over $100 million in endorsement deals alone. And this is just the beginning of many marketing campaigns he’s looking forward to.
It’s only injuries or other non-basketball-related activities that could harm his destiny to becoming a billionaire simply by lacing his sneakers. “It’s not something I’ve thought about before. It widens the range of possibilities and impact I can have,” Wembanyama said about becoming a billionaire in an interview with Bloomberg.
What does Victor Wembanyama need to do to make it all possible
To be eligible for a supermax or max extension, Wemby needs to reverberate noise and success on the NBA floor. He needs to have a regular season award or All-NBA selections to qualify for a generous extension. The 7’4″ center had a rampant impact in his very first season. Earning All-Defensive First Team honors, Victor Wembanyama proved to be a shot-blocking menace while also displaying quick footwork on the perimeter. Moreover, his offensive repertoire extends to all three dimensions. His dribbles are mesmeric, he can make outlandish plays a reality and he can shoot the three.
There’s virtually nothing that can stop Victor Wembanyama from becoming a golden marvel in the world of basketball.
In the case of Michael Jordan, a transcending sneaker deal and the mercurial rise of the Jordan brand elevated his status as a billionaire. On the court, he only made $171 million when adjusted to inflation. LeBron James has made significantly more, having amassed over half a billion in NBA salaries alone.
Victor Wembanyma is placed impeccably in achieving something greater, something out of the realm of imagination. Considering he will have a signature sneaker with Nike and a plethora of brands to endorse him, he could shake the athletic wealth charts by the end of his career!
What do you think? Let us know in the comments below.
