LeBron James has made a nice living in the NBA. According to Darren Rovell of ESPN, James will eclipse $1 billion in earnings with his next NBA contract, which is expected to be announced over the next several days. Surprisingly enough, approximately 65 percent of those earnings have come in the form of endorsements.

James is the best player on the planet, but for most of the beginning of his career, he hasn't commanded sizeable contracts until his return to Cleveland in 2014. The 14-time All-Star, however, has been the face of the NBA ever since he was drafted first overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers back in 2003.

James' brand is incredibly strong and he's one of, if not the most recognizable face in all of sports. His endorsements with Nike, Coca-Cola, and Kia are all a major part of his career endorsements. In fact, James signed a lifetime contract with Nike. He's been signed to the company since before he ever played an NBA game. James is one of Nike's most popular athletes.

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James' high earnings in endorsements could make for an interesting situation late in his career. He could take less money on a deal in order to join a better team. It's unlikely that James does that with his next deal, but how much money a team can offer may not be nearly as important after eclipsing $1 billion career earnings.

The world's best basketball player may also be the world's richest athlete. At 33-years old, James is showing no sign of slowing down on or off the court.