In 2022, LeBron James became the first-ever active NBA player to become a billionaire. The Los Angeles Lakers star is now one of the three living billion-dollar NBA players in the league, a tag that he is now denying. 

LeBron, Michael Jordan, and Magic Johnson are the only three living NBA players who are billionaires, according to Forbes. However, when Complex’s Speedy Morman asked James about the billionaire, the Lakers star said that the internet lied about his wealth. 

"Google search is a lie. It’s wrong. It's way less,” James said with a smile on his face. “I got a couple thousand in my bank.”

The four-time NBA champion added that whatever he possessed, from his clothes to his wedding ring, everything came for free. He also joked that instead his sons had more money than him.

"I am free for me. Everything I got on free. This LeBron edition Richard Mille is free. My wedding band, free. I ain't got no money. My kids got all the money now. NIL and s***. They take care of Dad now. I ain’t got none. I’m broke,” James added. 

The NBA superstar was, of course, joking. He has a lifetime deal with Nike. In the last few years, he has signed multiple nine-figure deals, especially with the Lakers.

According to Forbes, LeBron is currently worth $1.4 billion. He has earned over $500 million in pretax salary and earned over $1 billion in pretax from business ventures outside the NBA court. 

While James has achieved his dream of being a billionaire, he has a bigger fish to fry in the next two weeks. James and the Lakers are up against the defending champions, the OKC Thunder, in the second round. 

LeBron James talks “small victories” after advancing to the second round

When the Lakers started their first-round playoff series against the Houston Rockets, they were heavily undermanned. Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves were ruled out with injuries.

With 41-year-old LeBron James set to lead his team, the Rockets were heavy favorites to win the series. But James and company shocked the world, taking a 3-0 lead and eventually winning the series ‌4-2.

This is not a big win in the larger picture, but James is now looking at victories very differently at the twilight of his career. 

"It's not my style at all. I think me personally, the accepting and trying to be OK with the small victories comes with where I am in my career,” he told Dave McMenamin.

“So just trying to appreciate the moments, whatever it is, and however long I'm playing. It's pretty cool to have the opportunity to lead a team, at 41 years old, into the playoffs and for us to be able to win it."

Without Luka Doncic, the Lakers are already entering the series as underdogs. But again, it’s LeBron James. It is hard to bet against the four-time champion. 

Do you think the Lakers can pull off the impossible against the Thunder? Let us know in the comments.

Written by

Nandjee Ranjan

Edited by

Utsav Gupta