Carmelo Anthony was the hottest name in NBA free agency for about a day. Then LeBron James hit the market. The world's best basketball player opted out of his contract with the Miami Heat on Tuesday, prompting dozens of media outlets to brand the moment "The Decision Part II." Theoretically, he can go to any of the league's 30 teams, though only a handful are realistic targets -- the Bulls, Cavaliers, Rockets, Lakers, and Clippers -- if he doesn't end up back with the Heat.
It is tempting to think: "I don't want LeBron -- he's self-absorbed and worse, disloyal." It's a sentiment I've heard in Chicago, and one that's likely shared by many fans throughout the country. In fact, a recent ESPN poll reveals James is almost 30% less popular among average NBA fans than he was as a Cavalier. His image took a hit after his move from Cleveland to Miami and the first infamous "Decision."
Still, the team that nets James will likely be a favorite to win the NBA Finals. And equally as important, the addition of the superstar will have business ramifications that stretch beyond the court.
LeBron remains very marketable
Despite the criticism, James remains one of the most marketable athletes on the planet. Forbes ranks him second, behind only Tiger Woods. The outlet pegged his endorsement income at $53 million last year, over $20 million more than what Kobe Bryant, Derrick Rose, and Kevin Durant made from sponsors in 2013.
This advantage appears to be threefold. He's dominant, having won four of the NBA's past six MVP awards. He's finally won a championship, with two rings in the last three years. And he's arguably the game's only transcendent star under the age of 30 (sorry, Rose and Durant). As SportsPro Media explains, it may be the latter factor that's most important. "Brands see LeBron not so much as an athlete as a modern American phenomenon. His website is less a sportsman's homepage than a lifestyle hub," the outlet wrote in its latest sponsorship report.
There's also reason to believe James can improve a team's live attendance. FiveThirtyEight recently analyzed this phenomenon. The outlet writes:
Even controlling for success, a "LeBron Effect" materialized in the data. The teams he's played for — the 2004 through 2010 Cavs and the 2011 though 2014 Heat — have home-attendance averages of 98.0 percent capacity, well above what their records would predict.
The bottom line
Of course, assuming the goal of every franchise is to win more games and ultimately the Finals, it's prudent to go after LeBron James in free agency. But given that he may also improve his team's endorsements and attendance, his arrival could be worth additional millions. For his sake, I only hope he doesn't broadcast his next decision in an hour-long TV special.