Bronny James makes $50 million earning for Lakers despite being benched
Bronny James is making an impact for the Los Angeles Lakers and himself, despite being away from the team after rough start to season.
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Bronny James makes waves with record breaking jersey sales
Bronny James, the rookie for the Los Angeles Lakers, has yet to make a significant impact on the court, but his off-court success is rewriting the rules of athlete profitability. With only 10 points scored across 57 minutes in the G-League and shooting a disappointing 4-of-19 from the field, Bronny’s athletic performance has been underwhelming.
However, his financial impact on the Lakers has been historic, generating roughly $50 million through jersey sales alone, per Marca. The hype surrounding Bronny James has always been massive, thanks to his lineage as LeBron James‘ eldest son. When Bronny entered the league, fans flocked to purchase his jerseys, with over 500,000 units sold at $100 each, surpassing even his father’s rookie jersey sales.
Bronny James’ record-breaking jersey sales just go to show what the value of off-court reputation truly is. While his stats or his intangibles on the court have yet to impress, his off-court portfolio is thriving. Even before his NBA debut, the internet phenom had already established himself as a savvy business veteran, much like his father, LeBron James.
He became the first high school athlete to sign with Beats by Dre, and with partnerships including Nike, Fanatics, and Google, his NIL valuation of $5.9 million made him a household name before he even put on the purple and gold. The Lakers’ investment in him wasn’t just about his potential as a player but also his marketability as a brand, as Gilbert Arenas previously outlined.
LeBron and Bronny James make record jersey sale over historic moment
Beyond just his rookie jersey sales, Bronny James made history alongside his father earlier this season. During the Lakers’ season opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves, LeBron and Bronny shared the court, marking the first time a father-son duo played in the NBA.
This historic game created a surge in demand for their memorabilia, culminating in their jerseys selling for $102,000 at a Sotheby’s auction.
Jerseys that LeBron and Bronny James wore the night they became the first father and son to play in an NBA game together sold as a pair at auction for $102,000.@BrooksDT has more ⤵️https://t.co/SJr1FtsXSn
— The Athletic NBA (@TheAthleticNBA) December 5, 2024
The historic moment between LeBron James and his son was one of the standout highlights from this young season, even though some believe it derailed Bronny James‘ career. The generational achievement became a memorable item for sports memorabilia collectors across the globe as well. The astronomical auction price for their jerseys speaks for itself in terms of the unique value the jerseys possess.
Despite the monumental sales figures and history in the making, Bronny James still faces significant challenges in proving himself as an NBA-caliber player. Currently, his return to action seems imminent, but it is expected to be with the South Bay Lakers in the G-League, even though he has faced criticism for ‘special treatment.’
As for the Lakers, they aim to overcome their recent slump with upcoming games, including a critical upcoming matchup against Atlanta, to right their sinking season.
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Armaan Gupta
(324 Articles Published)