“They make more money than any rookie ever” - Magic Johnson thought LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony redefined rookie earnings
Before they climbed to the top of the mountain and achieved their dream of making it into the NBA, LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony were considered the best prospects in the country and are arguably the best high school phenoms of the 2000s.
So it was no surprise that the ir highly anticipated 2002 matchup drew over 11,000 fans and was nationally televised.
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James was already on the cover of Sports Illustrated and considered a future face of the NBA. He was widely regarded as the best prospect in the nation, with many arguing that no one has matched the hype and expectations since. LBJ went so far as to skip college and head straight to the league.
On the other hand, Anthony was a standout at the legendary Oak Hill Academy in his senior year, ranking at the top of his class. Melo then took his talents to Syracuse for one year, where he led the college program to its only NCAA title.
As they entered the NBA Draft, their hype and impact shattered the previous limits for what a rookie can accomplish both on and off the court, most certainly off it.
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Financially historic rookiesAfter their dominant first year in the league, when James won the Rookie of the Year award and Anthony trailed ri ght behind him, the two were certainly dominant off the court in the financial world, attracting attention from numerous businesses.
In ESPN's interview with Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, the two legends expressed their awe at the impact the upcoming superstars will have beyond basketball.
"They are companies. They not only have to be ball players, but they have to run their companies. Both of them got companies now. Both of them probably made more money than any two rookies that ever came out in the league. They probably made more money in their first couple of years than combined [Johnson and Bird] together in our first fi ve years. We had to develop our companies, but they can come out as rookies and have their own companies," Johnson said.
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As Johnson stated, both James and Anthony set a new gold standard for athlete marketing. LBJ signed a seven-year, $90 million contract with Nike, which was the biggest rookie shoe deal ever at the time, before he even set foot on an NBA hardwood. For perspective, Michael Jordan's first deal with Nike was worth $2.5 million.
Anthony, however, broke ground as the first athlete to sign with Jordan Brand, where his six-year deal was worth $21 million. MJ expressed his belief in young Melo because, at the time, it wa s the largest amount he had ever paid another player to lead his brand. A year later, in 2004, the Jordan Melo 1.5 was the first non-MJ signature shoe in the brand's history.
Walking piggy banksAs for their other notable ventures, James broadened his portfolio by sec uring endorsements with global brands, such as Coca-Cola and Upper Deck. Combined with his Nike deal, James' endorsements totaled $100 million before he even played a single minute in the NBA.
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Anthony didn't reach the same $100 million level as James, but he was still successful in his own right. Aside from his deal with Jordan, Melo leveraged his persona through other business ventures, such as the "Melo Bar", a candy bar.
More than two decades later, both players rose to their expectations on the individual level, reaching historic rankings. James became one of the GOATs, reaching billionaire status and Anthony positioned himself as one of the greatest scorers and most beloved players in NBA history.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Mar 14, 2026, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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