If recent reports are anything to go by, NBA teams and their stars are at the top of the pack when it comes to endorsements and sponsorships in professional sports. And even when compared to the likes of the NFL, MLB, and NHL, NBA players are miles ahead of the competition.
This has seen NBA stars sign sponsorship deals with a wide range of companies, which include everything from food and drinks brands to online casino games. In recent years, this has even included online betting platforms, such as fantasy sports and sports betting.
Whilst many of these celebrity endorsement deals are completely predictable—particularly those in the food and beverage industries—many NBA stars have appeared more than willing to depart from these more familiar commercial territories if the price is right. This has seen both current and former NBA stars represent everything from pharmaceuticals to diet plans.
Of the many NBA player endorsement deals that have been signed over the years, however, what are the weirdest ones?
Charles Barkley and Weight Watchers
Although in his prime playing years, Barkley sported a finely honed physique, his post-retirement years were not quite so kind. As a result of this, Barkley added considerable bulk to his frame when he finished up his career as a professional.
Not one to waste a commercial opportunity, Barkley would later go on to sign a deal with Weight Watchers. After signing the deal in 2011, Barkley reportedly shed a massive 50 pounds out of the 100 pounds he had gained in his post-professional years.
Despite representing the company, however, there are some doubts as to how much of this weight loss can actually be attributed to Weight Watchers itself!
Wilt Chamberlain Endorses a Laxative
In the history of the NBA, there are few players that have had as glittering a career as Wilt Chamberlain did. Over the course of his 14 professional playing years, Wilt managed to score a number of records that still stand to this day. These include being the only player to score 100 points in a single NBA game, as well as the only player to average at least 30 points and 20 rebounds per game in a season.
Following his retirement from the Lakers in 1973, Chamberlain also secured a number of endorsement deals to beef up his pension package. And perhaps most memorable, this included filming a commercial for the laxative brand, Fletcher’s Castoria.Â
Kobe Bryant Goes Turkish
In the list of all-time great players, you would be hard-pressed to find a basketball fan who wouldn’t include Kobe Bryant on their list of all-time greatest players. And, over the course of his long and storied playing career, Bryant was also consistently ranked as one of the highest-earning basketball players of all time.
Despite this, Bryant still signed plenty of endorsement deals during his professional years. Of the many different deals signed by Bryant, arguably the most random was the one he signed with Turkish Airlines.
Whilst we wouldn’t want to ever deny the legitimacy of Turkish Airlines—after all, they are one of our favorites—what makes this deal so strange is simply how random it is!
Beyond earning an eye-watering sum of money, it is not clear why Bryant felt the need to push Turkish Airlines, given that he has no discernible connection to Turkey. For this reason alone, we couldn’t help but include it in the list!
Shaquille O’Neill Needs Icy Hot
Although his comedic personality might lead you to believe otherwise, Shaquille O’Neill is actually one of the savviest businessmen in the history of the NBA. And even when compared to the likes of Michael Jordan—who is by far one of the richest men to have ever played the game—O’Neill still manages to hold his own.
One of the ways that O’Neill has been able to amass such a massive fortune is through signing a healthy variety of endorsement deals. Out of the many different deals signed by Shaq—which has included the likes of Burger King, Wheaties, and Pepsi—arguably, the strangest is Icy Hot.
On one hand, given that Shaq is a giant of a man and has a career’s worth of injuries behind him, this is a perfect deal. However, on the other hand, it seems quite out of place given his association with big-name brands, like Pepsi, Burger King, and Taco Bell.
Nevertheless, it is this willingness to back products that he truly believes in that has helped Shaq to amass such a massive fortune!
