Overview
- LeBron James signed a two‑year, $8 million deal with the Philadelphia 76ers and will make the veteran minimum — about $3.9 million — in 2026.
- Third‑party On3 NIL valuations published this week project several high‑profile college football players, including Oregon QB Dante Moore, could earn endorsements above LeBron’s 2026 NBA salary.
- Those On3 figures are projected estimates of endorsement and commercial income and are not guaranteed paychecks or signed contracts.
- Reporting also notes that many NBA players will still out‑earn LeBron on salary alone, with USA Today saying nearly 300 players will make more next season and The Athletic estimating roughly 20 college players could top his 2026 figure.
- The difference reflects post‑NIL market shifts that let top college athletes capture major brand deals and that may influence choices about returning to school or turning pro and how universities and brands compete for talent.