Despite the animosity after leaving the Cavaliers, James continues to be a hot ticket. His jersey was the NBA’s best seller of 2011 season and he has the No. 1 basketball shoe on the market. In April 2011, James partnered with Fenway Sports Group to manage his business interests. As part of the deal James received a very small stake in FSG-owned soccer club, Liverpool. His biggest deal is with Nike, and he signed an extension in 2010 that pays more than $10 million per year. James added McDonald’s to his endorsement portfolio in January 2010 in a deal worth an estimated $4 million annually. He is the NBA’s biggest endorsement star thanks to deals with Nike, McDonald’s, Coca-Cola, State Farm and others. He signed a deal to promote Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin Robbins in Asia in March 2012 and his signature Nike shoe has been a hot seller racking up $90 million in sales in the U.S. in 2011 according to SportsOneSource.
