Report: Kevin Durant could earn $30 million annually in endorsement deal

Kevin Durant is a very likable basketball player and very likable person.

That combination has him on the verge of a huge payday.

Frank Isola of the New York Daily News:

According to a person familiar with negotiations, Durant, whose seven-year, $60 million deal with Nike is expiring, could earn as much as $30 million annually if he signs with Under Armour Inc., whose headquarters are in Durant’s home state of Maryland.

Nike and Adidas are also in talks with Durant

Even if the salary cap rises to $80 million in 2016 – the highest projection I’ve seen – and Durant re-signs on a max five-year contract with max raises, he STILL wouldn’t make $30 million in the final year of the deal.

This is a ton of money for even an NBA superstar.

If Durant can leverage Nike or Adidas into a higher offer, all the better. But Under Armour has set a heck of a starting point.

The big question: What would this contract mean for Durant’s 2016 free agency?

Would Under Armour ties lead him near the company’s base and to the Wizards? Would his exact salary be tied to playing in a certain market? Would the security of a massive shoe contract convince him to give his NBA team a discount?

Durant will have a couple years to work through the implications on his free agency. First, he must decide which company will pay him a ton of money to sponsor him.