LeBron James may be a four-time NBA champion, but he’s also a businessman.
The latest example comes from a Polymarket partnership that will pay James $15 million per year. The deal is nearly worth quadruple of what the 41-year-old is set to earn with the 76ers this season.
LeBron James speaks onstage during the Mind the Game panel at Fanatics Fest NYC 2026. Getty Images for Fanatics
The agreement between James and the sports betting company focuses on promoting football, not basketball. But it’s clear his pay cut with Philadelphia doesn’t look so drastic when weighing the amount of money James will earn from endorsement deals.
The NBA’s all-time leading scorer left money on the table when he informed the Lakers he would not return for the 2026-27 season. But James said it was never about money as he pondered the next and final home of his illustrious NBA career.
James joining the 76ers on a veteran minimum deal was evidence of the superstar’s desire to find complete basketball happiness, rather than make a profit in the twilight of his career.
But the latest deal with Polymarket has raised some eyebrows.
James announced he would join Philadelphia on July 24. At that time, Polymarket was set to be inaccessible due to a state ban that made it a felony for prediction markets to operate or advertise in Minnesota — James was weighing the Timberwolves as one of his potential destinations.
A federal judge issued an injunction placing the ban on hold July 27, three days after James made his long-awaited announcement. If the deal with Polymarket was already in the works, that would have eliminated Minnesota as an option for James in free agency.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James reacts during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Phoenix Suns. AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh
LeBron James speaks onstage during The Shop Live panel at Fanatics Fest NYC 2026 at Jacob Javits Center. Getty Images for Fanatics
Moreover, the Clippers’ scandal has shed light on teams openly violating salary cap circumvention rules. While James’ deal doesn’t interfere with any CBA rules, partnerships with companies could lead directly to smaller contracts in order to help with salary cap relief.
In theory, that would be a method of circumventing the cap.
It’ll be interesting to see how the NBA navigates this new era of partnerships for its athletes.
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