Stephen Curry may have catapulted the Golden State Warriors to five-straight NBA Finals appearances and three championships — plus two back-to-back league MVP awards for himself along with worldwide fame — but he’s not winning the league’s shoe game.
According to Forbes’ “NBA’s Richest Shoe Deals” list, Curry and his $20 million contract with Under Armour rank fourth.
Ahead of him on the list are two players who also have household names: Kevin Durant (Nike, $26 million) is third and LeBron James (Nike, $32 million) is second.
So, who’s No. 1?
The man who made sneaker endorsement deals into a shoe game: Michael Jordan (Nike, $130 million).
Although he hasn’t played a professional sport in 16 years, Jordan’s shoe earnings bring in more than any current player earns in NBA salary, shoe deal and other endorsements combined.
Jordan won six NBA championships and six Finals MVP awards with the Chicago Bulls during a career that was interrupted by a few retirements, including a break to try his skills at baseball. Jordan retired from playing professional sports for good in 2003.
As of 2010, he has been the majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats — he became a minority owner in 2006.
Jordan signed his first deal with Nike in 1984 — five years, $500,000 annually, according to Forbes.
