While you're still laughing at Klay Thompson, busting his behind in front of thousands of adoring fans after attempting a 360 dunk, the Warriors guard is laughing all the way to the bank.
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Last week, Thompson, fresh off winning his NBA championship in three years, took a hard spill during a 10-day promotional tour for ANTA, the Chinese brand he's worn the past three seasons. Friday, he became one of the league's richest sneaker endorsers, signing a 10-year extension that could pay him up to $80 million, Nice Kicks reports . According to Forbes , the deal which likely ensures he remains with the company that also boasts Rajon Rondo and boxing star Manny Pacquaio on its roster, for the rest of his career puts Thompson sneaker endorsement earnings ahead of the likes of MVP Russell Westbrook, Carmelo Anthony (Jordan), and Paul George (Nike).
His extension ties him with three-time champion Dwyane Wade's, whose Li-Ning deal pays him $8 million a year, as the league's highest-paid endorser of a Chinese brand.
Working with ANTA, whose released two Thompson signature shoes. They released an outdoor model as well and are set to roll out a third signature with accompanying apparel this fall.
Thompson, once a Nike Athlete, got hip to the opportunities at ANTA through Rondo, with whom he shares an agent. The more he learned about the company, which has 8,000 stores in China, a country home to an estimated 300 million basketball players, signing on was a no brainer.
"Knowing that I could be really big in China, was really cool to me," Thompson said on on Nice Kicks' podcast. "The shoe market, sometimes, it's over-flooded in the states. So, I was like, 'Why not, branch out and be global."
The timing couldn't have been better.
Since signing with ANTA, Thompson has won become an all-star, won a pair of rings and an Olympic gold medal. The more he wins on the court, the more marketable he is off it.
"The tours have been crazy," Thompson said. "...I could do a USA tour and go to Portland, Seattle, Chicago or wherever. I'm not getting these crowds. But I'm taking a five-city tour in China and there's thousands of people waiting to see me. I can't believe it. The hunger from these people just to see one of their favorite basketball players is so cool."
Check out Nice Kick's entire interview with Thompson.