Every NBA player, from the biggest superstars to the more modest bench players, gets a solid contract when they enter the league. However, their net worths vary quite a bit. That’s because a lot goes into how much money a player has, as well as how they grow their overall wealth.
Below, I take an in-depth dive into Luka Doncic’s net worth. Not only do the following sections analyze his different contracts and how much he earns per year, but it looks at endorsement deals, investments, and personal purchases as well.
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The Answer
When analyzing how Doncic has earned (and invested) his money so far during his first few years in the league, we first need to see where his net worth currently stands. The young star has amassed an impressive $25 million during his first few years in the league.
That money comes from different places. However, as Doncic has only been in the NBA for a relatively small amount of time, most of it is due to his salary. That doesn’t mean he hasn’t found other sources of income, they just aren’t as lucrative yet.
Early Contracts
As mentioned, most new NBA players only get money directly from their team. While some rookies can net shoe deals if they’re lucky, that’s a rare occurrence. More often than not players start by building their worth through contracts. That’s exactly what Doncic did.
The budding star exploded onto the scene in a big, big way. Even so, he didn’t have a record shattering deal. In fact, many weren’t even sure if he’d be able to play since he still had obligations to Real Madrid, who he played for in Europe.
After some deliberation, the Mavericks managed to put that all to rest. Rather than trying to go through any loopholes, they reached a buyout agreement with Madrid that gave them exclusive rights to Doncic’s contract and allowed them to make an offer.
What they put on the table was a scaling contract with some upfront cash. Then, he got even more guaranteed based on his play and certain incentives. The deal stated Doncic could earn up to as much as $32.6 million (roughly $10 million a year). Most of his wealth is from that deal.
Future Deals
While Luka’s early contract has floated him and enabled him to build up his net worth, the real earnings are yet to come. The reason he didn’t have a huge first signing is because there was a lot of speculation around him. Many teams weren’t sure if he could play.
Now that he’s shown to be one of the best scorers in the league, the Mavericks have decided to give him what he’s worth. Eager to lock him down, the organization offered him a stunning supermax contract on August 9th, 2021 that kicks into effect in 2023.
Once his rookie deal ends, Doncic will be set to earn a supermax extension that’s worth a staggering $207 million. Safe to say, his future is quite bright. However, that still has yet to go into effect. That’s why his net worth might seem a bit lower than many would expect.
Under his new contract, Doncic is set to earn $35 million a year. That’s a gigantic jump up from the $10 million he’s getting now, and should be enough to set him up for life.
Endorsement Deals
Of course, NBA contracts are far from the only way athletes can earn money. They also have the ability to sign on endorsements. Though Doncic did not have a lot when he first came on the scene, he has steadily gained more each year. That’s greatly helped to improve his worth.
Currently Doncic has three different brand deals. His first came, as it does for so many athletes, from shoes.
He signed a multi-year, multi-million dollar deal with the Jordan brand that will continue to pay out throughout the coming years. He has an upcoming signature shoe too.
Credit: SLAM Online
Beyond that, he has a deal with Panini America and a contract with the sports nutrition company BioSteel. There are no details about either signing, but they are both certainly quite large given Doncic’s reputation and star power.
The Biosteel contract names Doncic as the “Chief Global Hydration Officer” for the brand. He is an ambassador for the company, who seeks to give athletes healthy hydration options and challenge what is a very competitive market.
Image credit: BioSteel
Panini America is a trading card and memorabilia company. Their deal with Doncic gives them exclusive rights for both autographs and memorabilia. They also get exclusive cards with him too, which will likely pay off big down the line.
Those moves will likely be lucrative for both parties. Doncic gets a decent chunk of change up front, and the company gets access to one of the most popular players in the league. In fact, no one has sold more merchandise since Doncic entered the draft in 2018.
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Final Words
Luka Doncic is not the richest player in the NBA, but he’s well on his way. The star has earned a lot of money already, and his net worth is already far above most players across the league. He’s definitely earned it, and, if his talent is any indication, he has an extremely high ceiling.
Despite his early success, Doncic also remains humble. He doesn’t have a gigantic house, or a lavish car collection. He’s mostly kept his purchases on the smaller side, which is another sign that his net worth will only grow in the coming years.
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