The eldest son of NBA icon LeBron James, Bronny James, has drawn a lot of eyes for his promising skills and is now doing the same regarding his money in the bank. The USC Trojans men’s basketball team’s point guard is valued at $5.9 million on On3 NIL.
Needless to say, Bronny is the only other freshman rated in the top five, aside from Manning. The top 5 athletes include:
- Bronny James, USC, CBB – $5.9 million
- Shedeur Sanders, Colorado, CFB – $4.8 million
- Livvy Dunne, LSU, Gymnastics – $3.2 million
- Arch Manning, Texas, CFB – $2.8 million
- Caleb Williams, USC, CFB – $2.7 million
USC guard Bronny James holds a $5.9M On3 NIL Valuation, the most in College Athletics📈
2. Shedeur Sanders – $4.8M
3. Livvy Dunne – $3.2M
4. Arch Manning – $2.8M
5. Caleb Williams – $2.7MNIL 100: https://t.co/cBDfg0AgAf pic.twitter.com/pUgfUSM8Bc
— On3 (@On3sports) October 18, 2023
Being worth around $6 million at the age of 19 could be unfathomable for anyone. A fan page on X hinted that the 6’4” basketball prodigy is making more money than NBA superstar Russell Westbrook. Westbrook has signed a 2-year $7.8 million deal with the LA Clippers and is expected to earn around $3.8 million in the upcoming NBA season. That figure is still nowhere around Bronny James and the USC recruit hasn’t even stepped on the floor yet.
After a decision in June 2021, college athletes acquired the right to NIL revenues. As a result of their names and likenesses being used by their individual institutions, athletes like James, Sanders, and others are able to make more money.
Deion Sanders’ son Shedeur Sanders falls a little behind Bronny James
Shedeur Sanders, the son of coach Deion “PrimeTime” Sanders, who is a budding football star, comes in second with a salary of $4.8 million. Shedeur Sanders, the quarterback for the Colorado Buffaloes, has made a name for himself as one of the more eye-catching college football players.
In 2023, he already has 2,420 throwing yards and 21 touchdowns. His value increased to $3.8 million after the first week of the season and the season opener. It increased noticeably following his victory against Nebraska in Week 2 to reach $4.1 million. It also witnessed yet another rise after his triumph over Colorado State on Saturday to achieve a worth of $5.1 million.
The top two names in terms of name, image, and likeness are Bronny James and Shedeur Sanders. Student-athletes have been allowed to negotiate brand partnerships and receive remuneration under an NCAA rule starting in 2021. According to Afrotech, the 21-year-old was the first athlete from an HBCU to secure a multi-year contract with Gatorade.
When Sanders secured a contract with Beats by Dre at the age of 19, he became the brand’s youngest ambassador. He was appointed an ambassador for Tom Brady’s ‘Brady’ Brand in 2022. Will Sanders soon overtake Bronny James, the son of NBA icon LeBron James, and take the title of highest-paid college athlete, given the rate at which he is moving up the ladder? Only time will answer that question.