LeBron James Pays Too Little in Taxes, His No. 1 Critic Claims (2024)

NBA

LeBron James Pays Too Little in Taxes, His No. 1 Critic Claims (1)

By

John Moriello

LeBron James Pays Too Little in Taxes, His No. 1 Critic Claims (2)

John Moriello Sports Editor

John Moriello started covering sports in 1982, began digital publishing in 1995, and joined Sportscasting in 2020. A graduate of St. John Fisher University, he finds inspiration in the underdogs and the fascinating stories sports can tell (both the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat). John expertly covers all aspects of NASCAR.Beginning with his 2014 coverage at Fox Sports of the aftermath of the dirt-race tragedy in which Kevin Ward Jr. died after being struck by a car driven by NASCAR Hall of Famer Tony Stewart, John has excelled as a journalist who specializes in the motorsports world. He previously spent more than three decades covering high school sports and worked as a beat writer covering Big East football and basketball, but NASCAR is now where the true expertise falls.John is a member of the New York State Basketball Hall of Fame (2013), the President of the New York State Sportswriters Association, and a two-time Best of Gannett winner for print and online collaborations whose work has appeared on FoxSports.com and MaxPreps.com.

Get to know John Moriello better

Sports Editor

Updated07 Aug 2020

Disclosure

We publish independently audited information that meets our strong editorial guidelines. Be aware we may earn a commission if you purchase anything via links on our pages.

LeBron James Pays Too Little in Taxes, His No. 1 Critic Claims (3)

There are two types of sports columnists these days — those who think they should explain what you already saw with your own two eyes and those who aren’t afraid to tell you what you may not want to hear. Jason Whitlock is the latter, which is why LeBron James fans may want to plug their ears.

Whitlock went from newspaper sports columnist in Kansas City to national influencer on sports, culture, and race by virtue of his time working for Fox and ESPN. He recently began writing at Outkick the Coverage, and he’s been on a terror.

Your sacred cows are Jason Whitlock’s hamburger.

Jason Whitlock wants LeBron James’ thoughts on a recently leaked video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2NjzqGE1_s

RELATED: LeBron James’ $480 Million Net Worth Looks Tiny Compared to Michael Jordan’s Fortune

Fans watching NBA games the past two weeks understand that sports and politics are now and forever intertwined in ways that John Carlos and Tommie Smith could have never imagined in Mexico City in 1968. In protests that have cut across race, NBA stars moved nearly “all in” on Black Lives Matter with the blessing of the league.

Whitlock, one of the few columnists to show staying power after cracking the color barrier, has been taking note in particular of LeBron James recently. James’ status as both a league veteran and one of the NBA’s all-time greats gives him clout; the media duly reports whatever he has to say, which most recently was a rebuke of Donald Trump.

Between the traditional media and the more recent social media platforms, James possesses a booming voice. However, Whitlock isn’t being timid about shouting right back at him.

Whitlock began his week by arguing that the bootlegged body camera footage from two Minneapolis police officers during the arrest and death of George Floyd presented a story that diverges from what the country has been told so far.

Whitlock labeled the narrative around Floyd’s death a divisive “race hoax” and wondered aloud why James, Gregg Popovich, and Adam Silver among others have said nothing about the substance of the leaked video.

Jason Whitlock turns the ‘dog whistle’ tables

RELATED: LeBron James Is No Longer the Best Player on His Team For the First Time in His Career

Columnist Jason Whitlock goes several days in a row without being heard from and then returns to fire off columns in rapid-fire succession. That’s what has happened in the first week of August.

President Donald Trump expressed his disgust with seeing NBA players supporting Black Lives Matter and kneeling during the national anthem before games during the rebooted 2019-20 season.

“I really don’t think the basketball community are sad about losing viewership, him viewing the game,” Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James said. “And that’s all I got to say.”

James opened the door and Whitlock walked through it by calling him a “one trick political activist. His political magic trick is the left-wing dog whistle affectionately referred to as the race card.”

Whitlock tore into George H.W. Bush for playing a thinly disguised race card in the 1988 presidential campaign by turning Willie Horton into a major issue when the career criminal was hardly an accurate representation of his race. The columnist argued that James has fallen into the trap of making “Floyd is the star of this election cycle.” He went on to call it “divisive racial politics” built on the backs of people who won’t be brought back to life by kneeling before games.

Does LeBron James pay enough taxes?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwViwDBdPyk

RELATED: LeBron James Refuses to Stay Silent About Social Justice After Lakers Clinch Top Seed

The finale of Jason Whitlock’s three-peat attack on LeBron James came with him calling on politicians to defund sports rather than police, arguing that the windfall could best be used on law enforcement and criminal justice reform. Extending the concept to the entertainment industry as a whole, Whitlock called for a tax bracket of 80% or higher:

“COVID-19 and Black Lives Matter are helping rational people realize LeBron, Alyssa Milano, Lena Dunham, Steve Kerr, Amy Schumer, Colin Kaepernick, Aaron Paul, CardiB, Meek Mill and Jimmy Kimmel all need to shut up and entertain. They’re not thought leaders. They’re court jesters pretending to be world leaders.”

Jason Whitlock

Whitlock’s rationale: “Entertainers embrace Marxism and socialism. Let’s give them the system they prefer. Let’s take their tax revenue and invest in law enforcement and a criminal justice system focused on rehabilitation.”

LeBron James Pays Too Little in Taxes, His No. 1 Critic Claims (2024)

FAQs

How much does LeBron James make after taxes? ›

In total, before any deductions or credits, LeBron could be paying nearly $47 million in taxes alone, leaving him with around $53 million in take-home income. Athletes, like other high-earning individuals, often explore tax avoidance strategies to protect their wealth.

Did LeBron take a pay cut? ›

LeBron James Explains Taking Pay Cut in New Contract to Help Lakers' Salary Cap. LeBron James signed a two-year, $101.3 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers this offseason, taking a slight pay cut from the two-year, $104 million deal he was eligible to sign.

What is LeBron James' new contract with the Lakers? ›

Keep track of the latest offseason news with the 2024 Free Agency Roundup. The Los Angeles Lakers and star forward LeBron James have recommitted yet again. James and the Lakers have agreed to a reported two-year, $101.35 million deal that includes a no-trade clause.

How much did LeBron get fines? ›

The league fined him a whopping $284,004 and also suspended him for one game.

Does LeBron pay California taxes? ›

Over the course of his four-year $153.3 million contract, LeBron James could pay more than $20 million in California income taxes. That's about $1 for everyone in the state workforce.

How much do NBA players actually make after taxes? ›

Professional athletes generally take home about 50% to 60% of their reported salaries after taxes and agent fees. For players on minimum contracts in the NFL, NBA, and MLB, take-home pay ranges from about $362,000 to $680,000 per season. The highest-paid players take home about $20 million to $30 million per season.

Where did Lebron get his money? ›

James is currently the NBA's highest-paid active player, earning over $431 million playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, and Los Angeles Lakers. James is also a savvy businessman whose endorsements and investments earned him over $900 million in 2022, according to Forbes.

How much money did the Lakers give LeBron James? ›

The Lakers announced Saturday that James signed a two-year extension for $101.35 million that would take him through 23 seasons in the league and edge Vince Carter's record 22-year career. The deal is approximately $2.7 million below the $104 million max, sources told Marks.

What is LeBron James' net worth? ›

How much money does LeBron James have right now? ›

He may only have half-a-billion in career NBA salary earned, but he's reportedly been a billionaire since at least 2022. In addition to his NBA salary, James is on a lifetime deal with Nike that alone is reportedly worth approximately $1 billion.

What is LeBron James' salary? ›

How much is the contract of Bronny James in the Lakers? ›

Bronny James plans to sign a four-year, $7.9 million guaranteed contract with the Los Angeles Lakers with a team option on the fourth year, according to Shams Charania. The deal comes as no surprise for a number of reasons.

How much did Charles Barkley get fined? ›

Rod Thorn, the NBA's president of operations at the time, suspended Barkley, without pay, for one game and fined him $10,000 for spitting and for verbally abusing the fan. It became a national story, and Barkley was vilified for it. Barkley, however, eventually developed a friendship with the girl and her family.

How much did LeBron turn down? ›

According to ESPN, James opted out of a contract worth $51.4 million for next season to become a free agent eligible to sign a maximum three-year deal with the Lakers worth $162 million.

How much money does LeBron make per day? ›

How Much Does LeBron Make A Week? James will make at least $44,474,988 in the 202-23 season. That means he'll earn $3,706,249 per month; $855,288.231 per week; $121,849.282 per day; $5,077.053 per hour; and $84.617 per minute; and $1.41 per second.

How much has LeBron made in salary? ›

As of the end of last season, James had earned in $479,466,457 in salary during his NBA career, according to Spotrac. His new deal, if it indeed comes in at the max, would pay him $49,987,718 next season. That obviously takes him beyond $500 million in total salary earned during his career.

Who is the NBA luxury tax paid to? ›

Tax is calculated based on a team's roster as of the last day of the regular season. The bill comes at the end of June, with half of the amount paid going to the NBA, in part to fund the NBA's revenue-sharing program. The remaining half is sent in equal shares to the teams below the luxury tax line.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Van Hayes

Last Updated:

Views: 6088

Rating: 4.6 / 5 (46 voted)

Reviews: 85% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Van Hayes

Birthday: 1994-06-07

Address: 2004 Kling Rapid, New Destiny, MT 64658-2367

Phone: +512425013758

Job: National Farming Director

Hobby: Reading, Polo, Genealogy, amateur radio, Scouting, Stand-up comedy, Cryptography

Introduction: My name is Van Hayes, I am a thankful, friendly, smiling, calm, powerful, fine, enthusiastic person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.