Home » Misc » How does the money line work in basketball
How does the money line work in basketball
Basketball Moneyline Bets Explained — Comprehensive 2022 NBA Guide
NBA moneylines are fun and simple and this guide makes it easy to learn with tips and strategies to make smart NBA bets.
Trevor Knapp
Last Updated:
Oct 14, 2022 11:54 AM ET
Read Time: 10 min
Photo By - USA TODAY Sports
Betting basketball point spreads can be daunting and quite tricky for first-time bettors. Luckily, NBA moneyline betting is way more straightforward.
What is a moneyline bet in basketball?
Betting the moneyline (ML) in the NBA means simply picking which team wins the game outright. Moneyline favorites have a negative value (-110), while moneyline underdogs have a positive value (+110). It's a two-way market, which means there are only two options to place a wager.
Team
Moneyline Odds
Atlanta Hawks
-130
Dallas Mavericks
+110
American odds are very straightforward. If a sportsbook has the Hawks listed as -130 favorites, you would have to bet $130 to win $100. If you wagered $100 on the opposing underdog Mavericks at +110, you would get a $210 return, including your original stake.
American odds are commonly used by first-time bettors, as they're the easiest to understand at first.
NBA moneylines as decimal odds
Another way to read odds is using the decimal format. Some sportsbooks won't offer the American format, so it's good to know how to use it. Using our earlier line, the Hawks and Mavericks would look like this using decimal odds.
ATL 1.77
DAL 2.10
To understand these odds further, all you have to do is multiply your stake by the decimal number.
A $20 wager on the Hawks (20 x 1.77) equals a payout of $35.40, including your original stake.
A $20 bet on the Mavs (20 x 2.10) would give you a bigger payout of $42 since the decimal, in this case, is higher.
A decimal number of 2.00 signals even money (+100), with anything lower considered a negative value on the moneyline (favorite) and anything higher listed as plus money (underdog).
You can use our odds calculator and converter to help further differentiate the two.
NBA moneylines as fractional odds
Bettors will find fractional odds commonly used as the default setting on British sportsbooks.
Here is how the Hawks-Mavericks line would look in the fractional setting:
ATL 77/100
DAL 11/10
For fractional odds, you would multiply your original stake by the numerator/denominator.
If you staked $10 on the Hawks at 77/100 (10 x 19/25), you would get a total payout of $17.69 ($7.69 profit + $10 stake).
Conversely, if you bet $10 on the Mavericks at 11/10 using the same formula (10 x 11/10), your payout would be $21.00, including your original stake. Our betting calculator also converts fractional odds to help you better understand them.
Benefits of basketball moneyline bets
One of the best things about simply picking a winner is not having to worry about the margin of victory or loss that NBA point spreads pose. Moneylines are the most straightforward bet out there and take the least amount of math and homework.
Moneyline bets provide a higher payout if you back the underdog and a better chance of winning the bet altogether if you take the favorite.
In many cases, moneylines are the best way to go for games when you like a favorite to win but aren't exactly comfortable laying the points. A lot of times in basketball, there is an opportunity for a "backdoor cover." A backdoor cover is when the underdog trails late in the 4th quarter and outscores the leading team in the final minutes to cover the spread.
For example, suppose oddsmakers favor the Raptors by 12.5 points, and Toronto is blowing out the Pistons at halftime. In that case, there is a good chance they won't have their starters playing in the fourth quarter. In this case, you'd wish you bet the Raptors moneyline instead of the spread, as there is an excellent chance for a backdoor cover.
NBA moneyline tips, strategies, and advice
Now that you know how to read basketball moneyline odds, here are some tips and strategies to apply to your NBA betting.
Avoid big favorites
One of the biggest things to avoid when betting NBA moneylines is wagering on big-time favorites. Taking the Lakers at -300 means wagering three times what you could potentially win, and in the long run, will lead to a loss in bankroll.
Look to back teams at better value who you feel are being overlooked by the books. More times than not, there is a team being offered at plus money every night on the NBA schedule should be the favorite instead.
Shop for the best lines
Different sportsbooks will offer different odds. If the Jazz are +150 at one book but are at +175 at another, you are missing out on plenty of value if you're not taking the latter. It may not seem like much on a small bet, but if you're placing bigger wagers, you'd be leaving aside plenty of return.
It also doesn't hurt to create more than one sports betting account so that you can take advantage of deposit bonuses and promotions on other sites. You can compare odds at different books to find the best line using our odds comparison tool.
Monitor injury news and starting lineups
Losing even a single player to injury in basketball can affect the line of a game. It's good to brush up on injury news the night before a match and know the starting lineups ahead of time, so you know if the team you're backing is operating at 100 percent or not.
More often than not, there will be last-minute lineup changes a couple of hours before tip-off that can dramatically shift the line. Brushing up on local beat writers on social media can also be a great way to get ahead of the news before the general public detects it.
Look out for game day trends
Our NBA scores and matchups page can give you a quick but comprehensive look at a slate of upcoming NBA games. It's good to know a team's record over their last ten games and if they're coming into a matchup on a hot or cold streak. Knowing team records when on the road or at home as an underdog or favorite is also vital. You can also track league-wide betting trends and view the public consensus picks each day to see who the general public believes will win each contest.
It's also vital to know if a team is coming off playing the night before or favorite/underdog records when certain referees call their game.
You can find an edge if a referee is matched up against a particular star player, and they don't see eye to eye. Suns point guard Chris Paul has lost twelve straight postseason games that Scott Foster has called.
NBA betting tips and strategies
Make smarter NBA bets with Covers. These guides dive into other ways you can bet on NBA action:
NBA Over/Under Betting Tips and Strategies
NBA Point Spread Betting Tips and Strategies
NBA Parlay Betting Tips and Strategies
NBA moneyline FAQs
If both lines are equal, the match would be considered a "pick 'em," meaning that neither team is favored to win, and the point spread would be zero in this case. This usually points to signs that oddsmakers consider both teams to have the same chance of winning the game. The line for a pick 'em will usually be -110.
Moneylines change based on the amount of public money coming in on either side. As the time of the game draws closer, the line will also get "sharper" as the books adjust it to its most accurate line based on injury news, starting lineups, etc.
Yes, moneyline includes overtime in basketball. There are also three-way lines where a bet is settled after the fourth quarter.
Copy this into the source of your page where you want the article to appear:
How to Win NBA Moneyline Bets in 2022
Provided by
Popular Content
Today’s NBA Player Prop Picks: Jackson Fills It up for Undermanned Clippers
Rohit Ponnaiya |
Nov 23, 2022
Clippers vs Warriors Picks and Predictions: Rested Starters Give Golden State Needed Edge
Rory Breasail |
Nov 23, 2022
Nets vs 76ers Picks and Predictions: All Eyes on Ben Simmons
Andrew Caley |
Nov 22, 2022
Today’s NBA Player Prop Picks: Ayton Doubles Down on Recent Success
Andrew Caley |
Nov 22, 2022
NBA Most Improved Player Odds: SGA's Offensive Explosion Leads MIP
AJ Salah |
Nov 22, 2022
NBA Sixth Man of the Year Odds: Westbrook Benching Flips Market on Head
AJ Salah |
Nov 22, 2022
Basketball Betting Guides
How To Bet On Basketball Moneyline Betting Tips Over/Under Betting Tips Point Spread Betting Tips Parlay Betting Tips Prop Betting Tips
Best US betting sites Arizona sports betting Colorado sports betting Connecticut sports betting Indiana sports betting Iowa sports betting Kansas sports betting Louisiana sports betting Maine sports betting Massachusetts sports betting Maryland sports betting Michigan sports betting New Jersey sports betting New York sports betting North Carolina sports betting Ohio sports betting Pennsylvania sports betting Tennessee sports betting Virginia sports betting West Virginia sports betting Wyoming sports betting
Legal Canadian sports betting
Best Canadian betting sites Ontario sports betting
An Essential Guide for Basketball Bettors
If you’re betting on the NBA, you’re going to encounter the ubiquitous basketball moneyline. While the moneyline can be confusing and intimidating at first glance, in reality it is quite simple.
We’ve compiled all the essential information on basketball moneylines below, along with more detailed information and advice a little further down. Using our helpful guide, you’ll be able to bet on NBA odds by understanding the moneyline with supreme confidence!
What Exactly Is a Basketball Moneyline Bet?
When you place a moneyline bet, you are merely betting on a team to win that matchup. There are only two potential outcomes, and you’re picking one or the other. It is as simple as that!
If the Detroit Pistons were playing the Golden State Warriors in a basketball game, the moneyline asks you wager on either the Pistons or the Warriors to win the game outright.
Most online sportsbooks including DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, and Caesars Sportsbook have moneylines as one of their most common types of bets. A moneyline wager is simple to understand and doesn’t have as many of the complexities and nuances as parlays or point spread betting. It’s a perfect option for people just getting into online sports betting.
The Essential Facts of the NBA Moneyline
There are only two options on an NBA moneyline, because obviously only two teams can play each other at any given time.
Depending on your sports betting site of choice, the moneyline will likely use what are referred to as “American odds.”
When looking at the moneyline, each team will have either a positive number next to it (e.g. +150) or a negative number (e.g. -125). The underdog will generally have a positive number next to it. The favorite will generally have a negative number next to it.
The bigger the favorite, the smaller the payout. The bigger the underdog, the bigger the payout.
In games that are expected to be very close, both teams may have a negative number (e.g. -105 and -115). In such cases, the team that is closer to zero is the slight favorite.
To help you understand, let’s look at a sample betting line!
Examples of the Moneyline at Work
The image above displays a sample betting line like those you’ll find at online basketball betting sites. We’ve highlighted the relevant part of the sample in red. The negative number (-110) next to Golden State indicates that the Warriors are the favorite. It also denotes how much money you would have to wager in order to win $100.
In this case, you’ll need to bet $200 on Golden State to make a $100 profit. Your total payout from this bet would be $300 when you add the $100 profit to your $200 stake. Of course, you don’t have to wager $200. You can bet any amount of money you like, though the payout will be commensurate with the odds.
A positive number denotes the underdog and signifies how much money you stand to win if you wager $100. If you bet $100 on OKC (and they win), you ‘d earn a $180 profit. (Again, your total payout would be $280 when you add the $180 profit to your $100 bet.)
What If Both Moneylines Are Equal?
Occasionally, both moneylines will be negative, but they won’t be identical (e.g. -115 and -105). If this is the case, the one farther from zero is the slight favorite. The greater the difference between the two teams’ odds, the greater the difference between the underdog and the favorite.
Basketball Moneylines Expressed as Fractions or Decimals
While NBA moneylines are most commonly expressed in “American odds,” you may also encounter sportsbooks that use either decimal or fractional odds. Most sportsbooks allow you to switch how the odds are displayed, flipping between American, decimal, and fractional odds. Decimal and fractional odds are part of the broader language of betting and you want to be fluent!
How to Read Decimal Odds
Decimal odds, like “2.10” or “1.90,” represent a multiplier. To calculate how much you stand to win, you simply multiply the amount you want to bet by the decimal. If you bet $5 at 2.10 odds, your return would be $10.50, whichincludes your original bet. (So your profit is only $5.50). A 2.10 decimal is equal to a +110 moneyline, while 1.91 means a -110 moneyline.
With decimal odds, the smaller number signifies the favorite while the larger number indicates the underdog.
How to Read Fractional Odds
In brief, fractional odds indicate how often a certain outcome is expected in a specified number of trials. To calculate the number of trials, you simply add the numerator and denominator together. Then you look at the denominator to determine how often the desired outcome will result from those trials.
Fractional odds (e.g. “2/1” or “1/3”) are slightly harder to understand than decimals, which is why they are used infrequently in NBA betting lines. When the denominator is smaller than the numerator (e.g. 2/1), it indicates an underdog (or a team with less than 50/50 chance of winning).
Conversely, when the denominator is larger than the numerator (e.g. 1/3), this indicates that the team is the favorite (or has a greater than 50/50 chance of winning).
In this case, Golden State is the favorite because their denominator (3) is larger than their numerator (1). That 1/3 fraction means that they are expected to win three times out of every four times (1+3) that this game is played (1+3). Oklahoma City, on the other hand, is only expected to win twice out of every seven times (5+2) this game is played.
A 1/3 fraction is the same as a -300 moneyline. A 5/2 fraction is the same as a +250 moneyline.
If you want more detail on reading and converting odds, please visit our guide on how to read sports odds.
Best NBA Sports Betting Promos
If you are looking for the best promos for all your NBA betting, then look no further than the top five sports betting promo pages listed below. Caesars Sportsbook are our number one pick, they offer a lucrative sign-up promo for your first deposit.
Caesars Sportsbook promos
Barstool Sportsbook promos
BetMGM Sportsbook promos
FanDuel Sportsbook promos
DraftKings Sportsbook promos
Why Do NBA Odds Change?
Sportsbooks often adjust the moneyline odds in the lead-up to the game. This is wholly dependent on where bettors are placing their money.
Sports betting sites want money distributed equally on >sides, regardless of probability. If significantly more money is being wagered on one team, sportsbooks change NBA odds to encourage betting on the team to lower the chance of losing money.
If equal money is bet on both teams, then sportsbooks can simply pay the winners from money wagered by the losers, while keeping the “juice” for themselves.
If Odds Change, Does That Affect Me?
Once you make your bet, it’s locked in. If the odds shift, it has no effect on the bet you already made. But if you haven’t wagered yet, then of course it does!
As more money comes in, the moneyline can vary from hour to hour. Moneylines on particular sporting events will also change from sportsbook to sportsbook. Be sure to shop around to find the best basketball moneyline for you: It matters in the long run!
Ready to Take on the NBA Moneyline?
Now that you’ve mastered the ins and outs of betting on the basketball moneyline, you’re ready to begin betting with confidence this NBA season. If you’re looking to expand your horizons to other types of NBA betting, be sure to check out the rest of the basketball articles in our sport-specific betting advice section.
Those looking for more advanced strategic considerations will be well-served by the content in our sports betting strategy section, where you’ll find articles specific to NBA betting and more.
However you choose to wager this basketball season, remember to bet responsibly and enjoy the action!
Information about money line bets
Money line bets are the most common type of sports bet. Due to the simplicity of the format, such bets are especially popular among beginners. In search of profit, more experienced players often pay attention to the markets of such bets. What is a money line bet? How do money line bets work? Read on to find out.
What is a money line bet?
Money line bets are the simplest and most common type of bet. Typically, the market presents bets on one of the two participants in a particular competition. All you have to do to place a money line bet is pick a likely winner and bet on him. To describe a money line bet in simple terms, it is enough to say that it is a bet on the winner of a match.
If you placed a money line bet on the team or athlete that won the match, your bet won. If this team or this athlete loses, your bet is lost. To determine the potential income from a money line bet, multiply the bet amount by its decimal multiplier.
How do money line bets work?
Moneyline bets are the most popular in sports such as baseball, tennis and mixed martial arts (within the UFC). These bets are also popular in the NBA and NFL markets, but due to the high scoring of basketball and American football games, players prefer to bet on other types of bets (for example, bets on totals and handicap bets).
Sports betting information: how to bet on sports?
The most common money line bet placed by bettors is in connection with sports competitions involving two teams or two athletes that cannot result in a tie. At the same time, players can place money line bets on football matches and other competitions that may well end in a draw.
Such bets may be called "money line" bets with three possible outcomes of the competition (including a draw). However, they are most commonly referred to as 1X2 bets (where 1 is the home team, X is a draw, and 2 is the away team). In addition, football has more traditional “two-way money line” bets, the odds of which are adjusted so that the players do not have the opportunity to bet on a draw: if neither team wins, the bookmaker will return the bet amounts to the players.
It is important not to be tied to a particular market. Don't give preference to money line bets, handicap bets or over/under bets. Of course, a player can specialize in a certain market, but at the same time, he needs to be able to analyze the overall picture of the competition, which is formed due to various betting markets.
Unlike Over/Under (Totals), Handicap betting and many other bets, money line bets are processed solely on the basis of the outcome of the match, and the difference in the score and the number of points scored by the participants do not count. such rates are irrelevant. The offered coefficients reflect the probability of victory or defeat of each participant in the competition (that is, they determine the favorite and the outsider).
Although money line bets are very different from handicap bets, there are similarities between them. The higher the handicap of the favorite, the more likely it is to win. Thus, the higher the handicap, the lower the money line odds on the favorite (and the higher the odds on the underdog).
Players often use handicap betting as an alternative to money line betting when there is a significant difference in the quality of play between opposing teams or athletes. If you are confident enough that a certain team will win and you think that the actual difference in the score will exceed the one predicted by the bookmaker, it is worth placing a bet with a handicap: this will give you the opportunity to increase your winnings. After all, guessing the difference in the score is more difficult than just choosing a likely winner.
How are money line bets different from 1X2 bets?
As already mentioned, the difference between money line bets and 1X2 bets may seem relatively small, but this difference can have a significant impact on odds and bet results.
The main difference between these types of bets is the option to choose a draw. In moneyline betting markets, there are usually two options: team or player A wins and team or player B wins. The most commonly used 1X2 betting markets in football have both of these options plus a draw.
According to some people, the difference between these types of rates comes down to the choice of terms. This is why, when placing a money line bet on a competition that could result in a draw, it is important to understand which outcome you are betting on. It is necessary to determine the market to which the placed bet belongs: 1X2 (the money line betting market with three possible outcomes of the competition) or the traditional money line betting market, in connection with which there is no draw. If you place a bet on the 1X2 market and think it's a regular money line bet, you're in for a nasty surprise if you tie: the bookmaker won't refund your bet.
Money Line Example
The concept of money line bets is easy to understand, but it's helpful to look at an example to help beginners understand the ins and outs of these bets. Below is an example of Pinnacle's NFL money line betting market.
These odds suggest that the Kansas City Chiefs have a 79.56% chance of winning, while the Houston Texans have a 20.44% chance of winning. If you think the Houston Texans will win, or if there is more than a 20.44% chance of this happening, you can place a money line bet accordingly. To do this, you simply need to add the specified selection to the bet slip and place a bet.
If the Houston Texans beat the Kansas City Chiefs, your bet wins and you get €47.40 (€37.40 profit plus €10 stake). If the Chiefs beat the Texans, your bet will lose and be worth €0.
Money Line Betting Strategy: When to Bet
Once you understand how money line betting works, you will be able to use different methods or strategies to find profitable bets. People who play the fun betting markets usually choose their favorite team or the team they think has the best chance of winning. Serious players pay more attention to the concept of profit and bet on a team that, judging by the betting odds, the bookmaker underestimated.
If you intend to use the money line betting strategy to make a profit in the long run, it is important to understand the theory of probability. The ability to convert betting odds into probabilities can help you understand what outcome the bookmaker is counting on (along with the rest of the betting market).
Betting odds explained: what are odds?
You may be using a complex math model, using a simplified rating system, or simply comparing betting odds between an efficient bookmaker and a bookmaker that doesn't adjust the odds in the right way. The concept of benefit in all these cases remains unchanged. You are looking for the outcomes of the competitions, the actual probability of which exceeds the expected probability of the bookmaker, as judged by the available betting odds.
The player must not be tied to a particular market. Don't give preference to money line bets, handicap bets or over/under bets. Of course, a player may specialize in a certain market or have access to data that makes it easier to find an edge. However, at the same time, the player needs to be able to analyze the overall picture of the competition, which is formed due to various markets and helps to make decisions on the basis of which it is possible to place bets.
How the NBA shoe market works: Doncic in Jordan, Converse took Shay, Embiid has personal sneakers - PRO Basketball - Blogs
Before the 2019 draft, Zion signed the biggest shoe contract in NBA history for a rookie. The Jordan brand forked out for a five-year, $75 million deal. Before leaving for Disney World, Shay Gilges-Alexander signed a multi-year deal with shoemaker Converse, joining Draymond Green and Kelly Oubre. This is a direct consequence of the agreement between the NBA and Adidas that expired in the 2017/18 season, after which Nike became the league's brand.
Two years ago, the NBA lifted restrictions on shoe colors, hundreds of stylized sneakers were painted on the floor, and Fila, Puma, New Balance and 361 Degrees returned to the game in addition to Converse. In the NBA, only elite basketball players earn tons of dollars on sneakers. In 2020, only 17 players are releasing their own line of shoes, while the Jordan brand is represented by 27 people. Kawhi Leonard made a measly $500,000 a year playing in the Jordans, while Zion, with zero matches, got 30 times more.
How does it work? We drove to understand:
Who dominates the market
Nike, Nike and Nike. Collaborations with Jordan, LeBron, Durant and Kobe have won a large part of the market for the manufacturer. Almost 70% of the players in the league squeak their Nikes. While Adidas is losing 7.3% after leaving the NBA, Puma, Chinese Anta and Li-Ning and old-school manufacturers take its share and money.
How accurate are these statistics?
Look at your feet and write what is on them. Forces, shiny Kobes or wanked curry parquet? All my life I run only in Hyperdunks. Nike has covered the NBA in a thick watermelon rind, and small brands are picking holes in it and sucking money juice in small sips.
What contracts manufacturers offer
Free agents
Basketball players can wear any shoe and not sign a contract with a brand. Models of sneakers can be changed at least every time-out. In 2015, John Wall became a free agent, turning down an 8-year $66 million deal with Adidas because the Germans offered the lonely Harden $200 million over 13 years and his own shoe collection. A resentful Wall ran for free for two years before returning to Adidas on a 5-year, $25 million deal. 0003
Outfit Contract
Manufacturers offer a Outfit Contract to most players. This is such a free bonus for being in the body of the NBA or compensation for high growth. Basketball players do not receive money, but they have an annual deposit in the company store for sneakers and clothes. The base deposit is $25,000 and, like the contract, it expires before October 1st. Such agreements are made by players with a burning can under their ass or big men who are unable to sell sneakers.
Cash contracts
View this post on Instagram
🌮 Jay @jumpman23
A post Shared BY JAYSON TATUM🙏🏀 ( @jaytatum0) on
Brands are willing to pay money for the opportunity to put shoes on promising and star players, but in a very limited amount. There are from 70 to 100 such players in the NBA. At the minimum agreement, the basketball player receives an average of a fixed $250,000 per year, at the maximum - $2.5 million. In addition to the fixed part, star players receive bonuses, a deposit for equipment and individual colors for their favorite sneaker models.
Nike awards personal colors to All-Star Game players and top draft picks who partner with the brand. Jordan for its "roster" makes gold inserts in case of victory in the championship. Zion, Tatum and Rui Hachimura will appear in individual colors at Disney World.
Morant, Tatum, Adebayo and 14 more players under 25 who will blow up the end of the season in Orlando
Agreements expire before the start of the season (until October 1st). The player can be offered an extension in the spring, but if rejected, he becomes a restricted free agent. 90 days before the expiration of the agreement, basketball players begin to negotiate with other brands. The "owner" has the right to interrupt the competitor's offer within 10 days. This happened to Steph Curry in 2013. After a 4-year agreement with Nike, the player was offered to become the star of Under Armor. Nike wanted to outbid UA, but Curry himself wanted to be the foot of a new shoe franchise.
Exclusive Agreement
There are three ways to own your own sneaker line: go by the name Ball, start your own company, or become an NBA superstar. Under an exclusive agreement, basketball players receive $5 million - $15 million a year fixed, various bonuses and a percentage of the sale of their collection.
Manufacturers assign a team of designers and marketers to exclusive players, and the magic begins. The line is updated every few years, exclusive players ride promo tours and dress less-star NBA representatives. In 2020, 17 players have the right to own a collection of sneakers:
Nike : LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Paul George, Giannis Antetokounmpo
Adidas : James Harden, Damian Lillard, Derrick Rose, Donovan Mitchell
Under Armor : Steph Curry, Joel Embiid
Jordan Brand : Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul
New Balance : Kawhi Leonard
Anta : Clay Thompson
K8iros : Spencer Dinwiddy
Big Baller Brand : Lonzo Ball
What bonuses are in the contract
Players rush to the court not only because of their great love for basketball. Any bonus or penalty can be added to their brand agreement. If the amount of the club contract is limited by the salary cap, then the shoe agreement is only the creativity of the basketball agent and the shoe manufacturer. Therefore, the exact earnings of the player for appearing in branded sneakers cannot be named.
Incentives can be attached to any individual indicator: the number of matches played, the average number of points, minutes on the court. Players are rewarded for getting into the symbolic teams and the All-Star Game ($300,000). Any individually won trophy like Defensive Player of the Year or Rookie of the Year has a price. Brands tie payouts to wins, playoffs and finals, and deprive players of money for injuries, poor performance, and being in unprofitable cities (hello Sacramento).
How to get a contract for shoes
Be a star student
Schoolchildren barely picking up the ball get on the radar of shoe giants. Manufacturers arrange branded tournaments and training camps for children. State storm? - you're in the piggy bank. Nike, Adidas and Under Armor are working at all levels of basketball America, pushing prime teenagers into the universities they sponsor.
Back in the 70s, Nike was doing some shady dealings at Georgetown and Nevada Universities, when they bashed coaches for wearing sneakers on their students' feet. University of North Carolina to get Nike 90 million sponsorship for 10 years, and some coaches - 300 thousand a year. How many university prospects will go to the NBA with a different brand after this? No response required.
Have a chatty agent
Even if you're Zion Williamson, you need an agent before the draft. Details of shoe contracts are not published in open form, so only “the insider” can find out the price level and competitive offers. It's unlikely that Jordan himself offered Zion $15 million a year. Agent Lloyd Frischer stepped in, having already made deals for Embiid (Under Armour), Mitchell (Adidas), George (Nike), Kuzma (Puma) and Wade (Li-Ning - for life).
Shoe manufacturers are playing roulette before the draft. There is a chance to flood the top prospect with millions and freeze the money for 5 years (hello Andrew Wiggins with a pledge of $180 million). Or you can view a future star and see how a competitor returns capital with minimal investment. The agent's job is to push his prospect to the maximum agreement before the player fails among the adult uncles. Therefore, a rookie shoe deal often becomes the biggest shoe deal of his career.
Have balls of steel
Brands quickly snap up hot prospects, and on draft night they eat cold pies, glancing at their numbers and clubs. Few prospects can turn down all offers like Lillard and go with balls of steel to beat the price in the Summer League. In 2012, the 6th pick won the MVP tournament and hired an agent for LeBron and Durant. Lillard signed a multi-year deal with Adidas, which two years later turned into a $100 million deal and his own sneaker collection.
Fit into Puma
If it's really tight with offers from manufacturers, you can fit into Puma. In 2018, the company decided to bet on all the roulette numbers and signed five players from the first round of the draft to its roster: the best picks - Deandre Ayton and Marvin Bagley, and the middle ones - Kevin Knox, Michael Porter and Zaire Smith. Meanwhile, the third and fifth picks, Luka Doncic and Trae Young, slipped past the Panthers. A year later, the brand signed prospects RJ Barrett and Kevin Porter and lured Marcus Smart and Kyle Kuzma. Kuzma now earns twice as much for the shoes as he did with the Lakers.
Most expensive rookie contracts in NBA history
Zion Williamson - Jordan Brand / 5 years / $75 million
LeBron James - Nike / 7 years old / $87 million
Kevin Durant - Nike / 7 years / $60 million
Allen Iverson - Reebok / 10 years / $60 million
Vince Carter - Puma / 10 years / $50 million
Carmelo Anthony - Jordan Brand / 6 years / $40M
Grant Hill - Fila / 5 years / ~$30m
John Wall - Reebok / 5 years / $25M
Ben Simmons - Nike / 5 years / $13-15 million
Marvin Bagley - Puma / 5 years / $12 million
Become an NBA star
In order for a rookie shoe contract not to become the best basketball player of his career, you have to achieve something in the league. Marvin Bagley's contract is one of the ten most expensive, but Puma is unlikely to want to renew it. An example of a player turned superstar is Kawhi Leonard. After the 2011 draft, Leonard signed a contract with Jordan for $500,000 a year. By the fall of 2018, the best defender in the league became crowded. After playing a season as a shoe free agent, Kawai went on to build an empire with New Balance: $22 million over 4 years and his own line of shoes.
LeBron vs. Kawhi, Phil will fly and Portland will rake. Breaking down the 12 most important NBA restart matches In December, they were joined by Luka Doncic, who started in the NBA without a sneaker contract. Now he's on his way to Disney World with a personalized Jumpman Diamond Low paint job.
Joel Embiid, like all players in his position, came out of the 2017 draft as another bust in the shoe market with a minimal agreement from Adidas, and in 2018 signed an agreement with Under Armor, becoming the highest paid big man.