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Damian Lillard just received back-to-back victories. The eight-time All-Star is currently on the roster of the Milwaukee Bucks following a three-team trade in November 2023, a news release mentioned. It has not taken long for the team to reach a major milestone. On Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024, the Milwaukee Bucks were announced as champions over the Oklahoma City Thunder in the annual in-season NBA Cup, which is in its second year. What’s more, players on the team with standard contracts will be awarded $514,971 each for the victory, notes WGN-9 TV. “I’ve had a lot of experience individually where I’ve had accomplishments and stuff,” Lillard said, according to AP News. “But to have some team success and win something and be the last team standing in this tournament, it feels great.” Giannis Antetokounmpo, power forward and teammate, commented: “I’m so happy for Dame that we got our first trophy together. This is just the beginning. We have to keep on improving and getting better, and we...
Reebok is making a comeback in the world of basketball. On Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, Reebok and the WNBA announced a multi-year agreement designating the global sports culture brand as an authorized footwear supplier for the league. “The WNBA continues to grow with iconic brands, and we look forward to Reebok joining us in driving women’s basketball to new heights and inspiring the next generation,” WNBA Chief Growth Officer Colie Edison said in a statement. “As we continue to capitalize on increased brand awareness, our work with Reebok is another step in bringing more fans to the game.” Reebok has been producing basketball shoes for women since the 1980s. Throughout the 1990s, the brand sponsored some of the best women’s collegiate basketball teams in the country and, in 1997, launched a signature shoe for WNBA player Rebecca Lobo. It’s no secret that Nike is the leading shoe brand among NBA and WNBA players, but other brands have a presence. As of October 2024, six active WNBA...
WNBA star and Nike signee A’ja Wilson is making m ajor moves. Wilson has been a cornerstone player for the Las Vegas Aces since she was drafted first overall by the team in 2018, as noted by the WNBA. She has led the Aces to two consecutive national championships and earned multiple MVP awards, including one in 2024. What’s more, Wilson has continued to dominate as the year comes to a close. She made history as the first player to score 1,000 points in a single WNBA season, according to ESPN. “It was pretty surreal but it was one of those things that I did not understand it was in reach,” Wilson said in reflection, per CNN . “It didn’t really hit me until the second half when I was like ‘oh no, this is doable.’ … Like now to live in it, I’m living my dream and so I’m so grateful to be able to say I’m here, and now I know someone is going to crush it soon and going to be 2,000 points in a season, so I am going to hold onto it now while I got it.” Wilson’s victories also extend off...
Travis Hunter has been quietly paying it forward to his University of Colorado Boulder teammates. The 2024 Heisman Trophy Award recipient and Colorado Buffaloes football star has been raking in various name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals, most recently signing a multi-year deal with adidas, as AFROTECH™ previously reported. View this post on Instagram A post shared by adidas Football (@adidasfballus) “Working with adidas is a special opportunity for me and something that I’m really excited about as I look ahead to what’s next,” Hunter said, according to Sports Illustrated. “The partners they currently have are top tier with some of the best young guys like me. I’m pumped to join the three stripes as we continue pushing the boundaries of the sport we all love.” Aaron Seabron, general manager, U.S. Sports & Creation Center Portland (Oregon) at adidas, commented: “…We’re proud to partner with someone whose passion for sport and drive to create impact on and off the field mirrors our...
Stephen Curry stands by his decision to choose Under Armour over Nike. In 2013, in what was arguably the fumble of that decade for Nike, the shoe brand conducted a pitch meeting with the Golden State Warriors point guard. He had been signed to the company since being drafted to the NBA in 2009, according to Basketball Network. Sports Illustrated notes Curry began setting up meetings with leading shoe companies, and the new Under Armour ultimately came out on top. Under Armour offered a $4 million annual contract that included the promise of a signature shoe and the chance for him to become a key figure for the brand. Nike’s offer was $2.5 million without the additional perks, and the meeting reportedly didn’t go so well. A representative was said to have mispronounced Curry’s first name, calling him “Steph-on” instead of “Steph-en,” and a slide presentation allegedly had Kevin Durant’s name on it and not Curry’s. With Curry choosing Under Armour, the deal kicked into gear in 2013....
It’s Travis Hunter’s winning season. The University of Colorado Boulder football player took home the 2024 Defensive Player of the Year award for the Buffaloes on Dec. 5, 2024. What’s more, he is rumored to be the top choice for the Heisman Trophy and is expected to be among the top prospects for the 2025 NFL Draft, Sports Illustrated reports. Multi-Year Deal Adidas Deal Hunter’s latest win includes signing a multi-year NIL deal with adidas, which will extend into his NFL career, notes Boardroom. The athlete has been seen sporting the apparel line on his podcast, Twitch channel, and during pregame warm-ups. View this post on Instagram A post shared by adidas Football (@adidasfballus) “Working with adidas is a special opportunity for me and something that I’m really excited about as I look ahead to what’s next,” Hunter expressed, per another Sports Illustrated report. “The partners they currently have are top tier with some of the best young guys like me. I’m pumped to join the three...
Former NFL player Mark Clayton sketched his vision for entrepreneurship while in business school. Clayton founded LIVV Audio, which offers high-performing headphones designed for athletes and fitness enthusiasts. The product was inspired by his experiences as an athlete. Drafted to the NFL in 2005 by the Baltimore Ravens, he signed a five-year deal valued at $8.2 million, according to Spotrac. Around 2008, he was among the many athletes sporting Beats headphones. Over the years, Clayton recalled breaking two pairs. In 2010, he was traded to the St. Louis Rams but suffered a season-ending injury. During his recovery, he turned to aquatic therapy but faced challenges using over-the-ear headphones during his sessions. “I made it to St. Louis and had a season-ending injury. And a lot of the rehab we did was in the swimming pool,” Clayton told AFROTECH™. “So, of course, I want to wear my over-ear headphones, but they would start to fall off, and then I have to take ’em off because I...
What a year for Coco Gauff. The tennis star made her way to the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, marking her first appearance in the Olympics. Despite not medaling, her appearance proved to be quite memorable. She also made history as the youngest athlete and the first tennis player to serve as the torchbearer. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Team USA (@teamusa) In October 2024, Gauff made history yet again when she won the China Open. According to CNN, she outperformed opponent Karolina Muchová and became the first American to win the China Open since Serena Williams in 2013. She wraps up the year by adding another title. In November 2024, she defeated Olympic gold medalist Qinwen Zheng during the WTA Finals held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. As Forbes notes , this marks her ninth WTA Tour singles title. Gauff took to Instagram to reflect on her achievement. “In all seriousness, I’m so grateful for all the support the last few weeks. Getting to win the last tournament of the...
Metta Sandiford-Artest, formerly known as Metta World Peace, has entered the world of venture capital by launching his own VC firm. The former Los Angeles Lakers player expanded his focus to the VC sector after retiring from the NBA in 2017 after 17 seasons in the league. According to Sportico, Sandiford-Artest pursued a deeper understanding of private equity and finance by enrolling in digital analytics courses and working toward a master’s degree at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). “I told people that I didn’t want my face to add value,” Artest told Sportico. “I wanted that to be my word and my (mind). That took a long time. There’s just so much that goes into that, especially how people perceive you. You’ll go into a meeting (before) and they’re just waiting to talk basketball.” In December 2024, Artest launched Tru Skye Ventures — in partnership with former Boost Mobile CEO Stephen Stokols. The collaboration builds on their existing business relationship, which...
Jerseys worn by LeBron James and his son Bronny performed exceptionally well at auction. On June 27, 2024, Bronny James made headlines when he joined the Los Angeles Lakers, selected as the 55th overall pick in the second round of the NBA Draft, notes USC Athletics. Shortly after, he signed a four-year rookie contract worth $7.9 million guaranteed, per ESPN. This historic move placed Bronny on the same team as his legendary father, LeBron. “Bronny is, first and foremost, a person of high character,” Lakers General Manager Rob Pelinka said, according to the NBA. “And second, he is a young man that works incredibly hard. Those are the qualities we look for in drafting players and adding to our developmental corps at the Lakers.” Speaking to his potential, Lakers Head Coach JJ Redick commented, per Sports Illustrated: “We view Bronny as case study No. 1. Because his base level of feel, athleticism, point-of-attack defender, shooting, passing — there’s a lot to like about his game. And...
Ray Allen turned down a lucrative offer as a rookie to sign with Nike. The California-born athlete was drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves in 1996 during the first round as the fifth pick, according to ESPN. He was traded that same day to the Milwaukee Bucks with a three-year rookie contract valued at $6.2 million, per Spotrac. Allen’s earnings helped him remain level-headed when he was receiving offers from FILA and Nike. He already had his mind set on Nike and was not even swayed by a six-figure offer from FILA, despite having a prior sponsorship deal with the company. “ I almost ended up wearing FILA. My agent at the time tried to make me accept a check for a $100,000 but they were telling me they were going to give me a signature shoe,” he told Sports Illustrated in a 2017 interview. “It was either FILA or Nike at the time, and (FILA) told me (I’d get) the signature shoe for five years years but the first two I had to lead the team in scoring, rebounding, steals or assists....
Keke Palmer became a millionaire by the age of 12. In 2004, the Chicago native landed her first film role in “Barbershop 2: Back in Business” . Her breakout role came in 2006 with “Akeelah and the Bee” and just a year later, she showcased her acting skills as Mary Thomas in Disney’s “Jump In!” alongside Corbin Bleu. By that time, Palmer’s parents had already hired a business manager—a strategic decision aimed at ensuring financial transparency. “They wanted me to know that they they weren’t the ones controlling my money. They had heard these stories and my mom said I don’t want money to come in between me and my child,” Palmer said on “Club Shay Shay.” Palmer also benefited from a Coogan account, which was designed to hold a percentage of child star’s earnings. She added, “That always was there regardless of anything else.” Palmer also spoke on the intricacies of reaching millionaire status by 12. “I became a millionaire at 12. To expect everybody to have become a millionaire at 12...
Russell Okung has no regrets about deciding to be paid in bitcoin. The two-time Pro Bowler previously played for the Carolina Panthers when he made history as the first NFL player to receive part of his salary in bitcoin, according to Sports Illustrated. In 2020, he decided to accept half of his $13 million salary in bitcoin, converting the $6.5 million at market rates and receiving 240 bitcoins. no more broke athletes. no more lost generational wealth. pay me in bitcoin pic.twitter.com/ZqTM0Y1fsC — OKUNG 🐆 (@RussellOkung) November 13, 2024 “I’m looking at Bitcoin. I’m talking to this young kid, young Silicon Valley type. We’re talking about me being paid in Bitcoin. I’m giving ’em the vision, but how will we do it,” Okung recalled in a video clip shared on X. “They’re not willing to adjust the collective bargaining agreement between the players and the owners. So what can I do to get the Carolina Panthers to play ball? Here’s the power of Bitcoin with U.S. dollars. You have to rely...
Whoopi Goldberg is launching a sports platform for women. During a taping of “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” she announced the launch of All Women’s Sports Network (AWSN), which has already broken ground in Asia, the Middle East, and India with the help of partners CommonSpirit and Jungo TV. “It’ll be the home for live women’s sports from around the world. Everything from soccer, basketball, tennis, cricket, curling — you name it. If a woman is playing it, we’re showing it,” Goldberg said on the show. Goldberg’s motivation for the network was planted when she was a child. She recalls a time when her brother would play a variety of sports, but she was often left out due to her gender, mentions Yahoo Sports. Throughout her career, she recalls engaging in conversations about how to move the needle in women’s sports. “Ever since I was a little kid, I always wanted to play sports. My brother could play … he played everything,” she explained. “So, for years, I’ve been talking to...
Ray Davis, a running back for the Buffalo Bills , is known for his talent on the football field and his rising career in the NFL. Throughout his first season, the 26-year-old has been a consistent standout, quickly winning over Bills fans with his stamina and drive. After being drafted by the team, Davis signed a rookie contract that provided him with both a $795K base salary for the year and a hefty $713K signing bonus. NFL rookie contracts, especially for players taken in the mid to later rounds, tend to offer initial earnings in the low to mid millions over the course of several years, and the 25-year-old is no exception. With performance incentives and future contract renegotiations, Davis has the potential to increase his earnings significantly as his career progresses. Running backs who prove themselves on the field often see lucrative second contracts, which can push their net worth into higher figures. All About Buffalo Bills Rookie Ray Davis (Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)...