As an NBA star in the professional league, you automatically come in contact with a lot of disposable income. This is usually in the form of sign-on bonuses, salaries, and other perks embedded in the contract package. Then there is the very lucrative side-channel from endorsement deals; mega-brands will pay you insane sums of money to show off just about any product they make. Some of the highest earners have a total take-home package in excess of $30 million per season.
That level of wealth equals tremendous purchasing power, and the stars dutifully splurge on mansions, luxury yachts, and of course, lavish automobiles. The only limit to what you can acquire when you have that kind of money, is your imagination. LeBron James even reportedly had his Ferrari customized to accommodate his 7-foot frame.
Here then, are some of the amazing sports cars driven by some of the most influential names in NBA history.
15 Anthony Murrow – Dodge Challenger
Anthony Murrow was a former professional basketball player who featured for the Chicago Bulls and the Golden State Warriors. He was well known on the court for his 3-point shooting. When he was not playing, he was often spotted around town in his distinctive Dodge Challenger that he had fitted with a custom grille and massive 22-inch wheels.
14 Stephen Curry – Porsche Panamera
He is one of the most recognizable names in the sport today. His current contract with the Golden State Warriors is worth millions and with that kind of fortune, he can pretty much afford any car he wants. The Porsche Panamera is one of the more ‘regular’ cars he owns; a powerful sports machine that can put out well over 600 bhp – more than enough for a quick dash to the training ground.
13 LeBron James – Ferrari 430 Scuderia
‘King’ James, as he is more commonly known, is arguably one of the greatest basketball players of all time. Unsurprisingly, he is one of the richest too with his annual salary estimated in excess of $35million. Deep pockets like this give him unlimited freedom to drive whatever he wants but one of his favorite rides is this gun-metal grey Ferrari 430.
12 Rudy Gay – Dodge Challenger SRT
Here’s another NBA Basketballer who prefers American muscle over Italian brawn. His Dodge Challenger SRT is as mean as they come; with its V8 engine capable of producing about 470bhp. The aggressiveness of the car is enhanced with a navy-blue matte wrap and custom black wheels. He also had a UConn Husky logo fashioned for the grille – we think it’s cool.
11 Kyle Kuzma – Porsche Panamera
At 24, Kyle has already made a name for himself as a regular for the Los Angeles Lakers. He celebrated his 22nd birthday by splurging on this black Porsche Panamera complete with pimped out red wheels. The car is worth over $100,000; not bad for a lad that struggled to pay for a $1,500 Honda back in college.
10 John Wall - Ferrari 458 Spider
The 29-year old plies his trade for the Washington Wizards, a club he’s been with since 2010. He’s currently one of the highest-paid NBA players and has a fleet of pricey automobiles to go with his status. One such beast is the Ferrari 458 Spider, a car he had customized with painted wheels, brakes, and special window tint.
9 Michael Jordan – Ferrari Testarossa
Michael Jordan established himself as a legend during a career that spanned 15 NBA seasons. He is proclaimed as the ‘greatest basketballer of all time’ on the official NBA website. He is retired now, but his various business interests and endorsement deals continue to churn out the dollar bills. It is fitting then that one of his favorite cars is the iconic Ferrari Testarossa, one of the greatest cars produced by the Italian carmaker.
8 Kevin Durant – Ferrari California
Kevin Durant has featured for big-name clubs including the Oklahoma Thunder, Brooklyn Nets, and the Golden State Warriors. Off-court, he is one of the highest-earning basketball players due to lucrative endorsement deals with companies like Footlocker and Nike. Away from the intensity of the game, Kevin likes to chill out with his Ferrari California, one of the easiest sports cars to drive today.
7 Ben Simmons – Ferrari 488 Spider
Simmons is an Australian who made his fame as a Point Guard for the Philadelphia 49ers, a club he has been with since he started his career in 2016. It’s pretty lucrative too – the NBA star treated himself to a custom Air-Jordan inspired Ferrari 488 Spider on his 23rd birthday.
6 Devin Booker – Ferrari 488 Spider
In 2017, Devin became the youngest player to store over 60 points in a single game, finishing with 70 points against the Boston Celtics. When he’s not shooting on the court, he’s busy scoring points with his matte black Ferrari 488 Spider. The sleek Italian Sports Car replaced the 458 Spider in 2015 and is powered by a 658 bhp turbocharged V8.
5 Kemba Walker – Jaguar F-Type
The Jaguar F-Type is one of the best British Sports cars today. It’s fast and handles superbly around corners or straights. It is also a great daily driver as Kemba Walker probably knows. He’s been frequently spotted driving his matte grey F-Type to the Boston Celtics training ground where he plies his trade as a Point Guard.
4 Draymond Green – BMW i8
Draymond Green primarily plays as a Power Forward for Golden State Warriors, a club he’s been with since the beginning of his professional career. He’s got enough incentive to keep him at the club too; his current contract is currently worth about $18 million per year. He prefers to keep it low-key off-court though with his hybrid BMW i8
3 Russell Westbrook – Lamborghini Aventador
Russell is one of the most influential figures for the Houston Rockets. He won the NBA Most Valuable Player Award for the 2016 – 2017 season and has been voted onto the NBA All-Star Team 9 times. His love of cars is well known and his fleet includes this orange Lamborghini Aventador. Few cars sound as good as this naturally aspirated V12 monster.
2 Damian Lillard – Bentley Continental GT
Damian is one of only two players in the Portland Trail Blazers franchise history to become a 5-time NBA All-Star. He has been with the club since 2012 and is an established Point Guard for the team. His current contract is reportedly worth over $140 million. When he is not distributing the ball to his team-mates, Damian loves to cruise around town in this tasteful Bentley Continental GT.
1 Trae Young – Audi R8
Trae Young’s career kicked off relatively recently, in 2018, when he was drafted by the Dallas Mavericks. They later traded him to the Atlanta Hawks. His career obviously got off to a good start, at least financially. In July 2018, he splurged on a black Audi R8 worth almost $200,000. According to the young star, this was the first car he purchased with his own money. With his playing skills and prospects, don’t bet against him acquiring many more wonders-on-wheels.