LeBron James is undoubtedly one of the most popular figures in the NBA these days, so it should not come as a surprise at all that he leads the pack of the highest paid NBA cagers to date.

Forbes gives an inside look on how James stood out, amassing $71 million in earnings and making it the second straight year that he has led the elite class of highly paid NBA players.

With the Cleveland Cavaliers, James earns $23 million annually, accounting for the third highest wage in the NBA. Though he signed a two-year contract with the Cavs, those numbers could skyrocket in the event that he opts out next year.

This means that James’ earnings can increase with a new deal next season, a ploy that allows him to keep in step with the rising salary cap in the league.

However, the bulk of James’ earnings comes from beyond the basketball court.

He has major endorsement deals with the following companies as mentioned on Heavy.com:

  • Nike
  • McDonald’s
  • Coca Cola
  • Beats by Dre
  • Microsoft
  • State Farm
  • Dunkin Donuts
  • Samsung

Take note that those companies are only “some” of the companies that have ties with James, proving how marketable and visible he is even outside the basketball court.

Of that list, Nike stands out. The shoe company has been James’ backer since he was 18 years old and his latest lifetime deal indicates that Nike and James will be in cahoots for a very long time.

The exact figures that will show how much James will get from Nike alone will eventually depend on how shoe sales perform, although numbers are expected to breach the $500 million mark.

Those estimates are conservative given his proven track record. Back in 2014, James’ shoes raked in $340 million in sales, something that can be easily topped in the coming years.

Aside from that, James has placed his earnings on businesses as well. That includes putting up a production company (SpringHill Entertainment) with Maverick Carter.

He also has ties with Fenway Sports Management that not only resulted in a seven-figure return but also a stake in the soccer club Liverpool. The list goes on, and if it keeps up, James is expected to reach the billionaire mark.

Coming in at second is Oklahoma City Thunder star Kevin Durant with $56.2 million in earnings, while the retiring Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers accounts for $50 million.

Rounding up the top five earners in the NBA circle are Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls with $34.1 million and James Harden of the Houston Rockets with $32.8 million.